[Q] Why bother? - Samsung Galaxy Nexus

SKIP TO THE BOTTOM FOR THE QUESTION
I really like the idea of the Galaxy Nexus.
I'm a former Nexus One user, I still have it in the box it came in with the Desktop dock and Car dock too. I'm holding on to it for ever!!!
I passed on the Nexus S because I didn't want a Samsung Phone. I love the way HTC makes their phones. I bought into the hype about their phones feeling "cheap" and "plasticy".
I decided to replace my N1 with a Sensation which has been a pretty big disappointment.
When the GN was announced I decided to swallow my dislike for Samsung's phones and go for it. After reading about the specs it seemed like a decent phone, Nothing groundbreaking just decent maybe even a little sub par when compared to some of the top of the line phones. The only really stand out things about it are the software, which most of the top tier phones will be getting upgraded to at some point.
NFC? It's cool but I can't see using it that much. I think I've run into one other person that was using a Nexus phone and I didn't care to swap info with them. I'd probably pay for stuff with it but I still have to carry a wallet so it's not going to replace my debit card.
Camera? 5mp that's less than 8mp seems like a pretty big step down from what every "top tier" phone out there. Hopefully the low light performance will be really good but somehow I'm expecting disappointment.
Big Screen? I love it big, but then I read about the Galaxy Note.
Pure Google? I've been there with everything up to Gingerbread and I have to say it was barren. I'm on sense now and I've tried (a few times) giving it up to use ADW to get that stock launcher experience I didn't last long. Compared to Sense 3 (I think) Gingerbread is VERY ugly and misses out on a lot of niceties that I've grown accustomed to in Sense.
At least it'll probably get updates first.
It seems like every time I turn around some company is releasing a phone that bests the GN in every way, SGSII, RAZOR and today I read freaking LG has got a phone with a killer display more pixels or something like that.
With that in mind how do you keep your excitement up about this phone?

when it comes to phones, its the software that makes the device, not the hardware......with a Nexus device you will always be on the latest and greatest, nothing is more frustrating to me than to be behind 1 or 2 software releases

Megapixels in cameras are not everything.
The support on Nexus phones is unparalleled. Samsung make good phones. I would get over the plastic hate and get the Nexus. You are on the Nexus forum so you clearly want us to talk you into it

That used to be the case. However with the announcement of ICS and the subsequent announcement from HTC, Samsung and others that ICS would be coming to their later phones it seems like the update argument may not be as valid as it used to be.
Even though I don't see that much use it NFC. Going forward, I won't consider a phone without it.

jivemaster said:
Megapixels in cameras are not everything.
The support on Nexus phones is unparalleled. Samsung make good phones. I would get over the plastic hate and get the Nexus. You are on the Nexus forum so you clearly want us to talk you into it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm totally here to be talked into it .
I will totally admit to unfairly jumping on the "Samsung makes cheap feeling phones" bandwagon. HTC phones have weight, Samsung phones are light.
Yes Megapixels aren't everything but they do count for something.

Ironzey said:
That used to be the case. However with the announcement of ICS and the subsequent announcement from HTC, Samsung and others that ICS would be coming to their later phones it seems like the update argument may not be as valid as it used to be.
Even though I don't see that much use it NFC. Going forward, I won't consider a phone without it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course they're getting updated, but they'll be updated 3+ months after the Galaxy Nexus comes out.

That Samsung build quality stigma is FUD. Is all plastic, but my nexus s is the most solid feeling phone I've had. Light and rigid. I've dropped it on tile and wood floor and keep it in my pocket with no protection except that it's by itself. It still looks mint with zero screen scratches since March.
Don't buy into the megapixel myth. The sensor quality and optics are more important. 5mp is more than any cell phone needs, and provides plenty of resolution for larger prints. most use cases are social networking which does not need even a fraction of that resolution. Wait to see camera reviews and comparisons after people get their hands on shipping product.
You do sound a little confused about what phone you want. There's plenty of good products from various manufacturers with good qualities. What you will get from the GN is vanilla Android, timely updates, a solid all-around performer from a hardware standpoint (maybe not the best at any one aspect, but a formidable complete experience), and the warm fuzzies that super geek Android fans get for nexus devices. That may not be right for you, but that's what it is.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk

My first android phone was the Droid X, I loved it as am android noob, then I rooted, then I flashed my first ROM, then CM7 came out for the DX, then I dropped it in a puddle... I was pretty disappointed when my insurance sent me an X2 as a replacement, but I've made it the most enjoyable I can by making my own ROM for it. Now I realize Moto will never stop locking their phones and hardware specs aren't everything, its about the software, which is why I'm 90% sure I'm going to be picking up the Gnex when my upgrade comes at the end of January. I've never owned a Samsung phone and am still skeptical about the build quality, hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised when I buy it
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App

What do people equate to build quality?
Do you know a phone that people says has the best build quality?
The iPhone 4 and 4s
Do you know what phone when drops shatters?
Thats right the iPhone 4 and 4s.
Judging build quality by feel alone is stupid. Quality means the grade of the materials used and how they are used. A plastic phone using really good plastic is a higher quality phone then a shattering glass phone.

Lil Jones said:
Do you know a phone that people says has the best build quality?
The iPhone 4 and 4s
Do you know what phone when drops shatters?
Thats right the iPhone 4 and 4s.
Judging build quality by feel alone is stupid. Quality means the grade of the materials used and how they are used. A plastic phone using really good plastic is a higher quality phone then a shattering glass phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The iPhone 4 and 4S are extremely high quality. They're just... made out of glass. Obviously they're going to break when you drop them. Just like a window will break when you throw a cinder block at it. That doesn't mean the window is low quality....

Their reinforced glass is not as good as gorilla glass, I heard.

The one aspect that people seem to be taking for granted also is that because of all these specs and the Nexus name. Galaxy Nexus is going to have a much larger developer following for rooted customization. Also, when you are looking for a new product what better way to narrow down what to get than to ask an expert...well, developers largely choose Nexus.
(Before someone attacks me with the typical response "not everyone wants to root ". No not everyone does. This was Simply offered as one more possitive to add to the Nexus checklist. )
When it comes down to it. everyone should buy what they want cause no one else cares.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

You don't buy the Nexus for the hardware. If my Nexus One would have worked on Verizon I would still be using it.

Let's be honest, if you're regularly browsing this site, chances are you're atleast toying with the idea of rooting the device (if not in the, "The thing will be rooted before I get a text" category).
The Megapixel hype is just that. It's kind of like America's fascination with horsepower -- yes your GT500 outputs crazy numbers, but it still can't turn.
-insert flaming-

Nother Sensation owner here waiting to bounce on the GN for dev support. I will run CM9 or a MiUI ICS variant more than likely. I'd prefer to have the most choice for kernels and roms over slightly better hardware. Do we really need 4 cores in a phone?

Ironzey said:
That used to be the case. However with the announcement of ICS and the subsequent announcement from HTC, Samsung and others that ICS would be coming to their later phones it seems like the update argument may not be as valid as it used to be.
Even though I don't see that much use it NFC. Going forward, I won't consider a phone without it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, that still is the case. Even though a manufacture says they will release an update it will never be timely. As manufactures produce more and more models of phones their support goes down the drain. My Samsung Vibrant never got an official update that was promised. The thunderbolt finally got gingerbread.
My G1 was my favorite phone. Great support by htc, google and devs. It always had the latest version of android, even when its hardware could barely run it.
I would rather have a well supported phone than the highest spec phone. While the galaxy nexus appears to have average hardware it will have great android support and dev support.

Availability of developers.
CAN'T STAND OS delays.
Beautiful bezel.
No HD screen + RGB notification combos on Tmo.
That's if this retarded phone ever comes out for Tmo.

Inused to be HTC supporter. But after I got The old Desire, I vowed to not get any HTC anymore. I dislike Sense and replaced with LP pro.
Then I got the Nexus S, and feel really like the design and overal feeling. All blacks, with super Amoled, seems elegant and mysterious.
And it is much lighter as well.
On top of that Qualcomm is not as fast as Hummingbird, Exynos, or now TI Omap.
Nuff said, no HTC anymore.
Nexus phone all the way
Ironzey said:
SKIP TO THE BOTTOM FOR THE QUESTION
I really like the idea of the Galaxy Nexus.
I'm a former Nexus One user, I still have it in the box it came in with the Desktop dock and Car dock too. I'm holding on to it for ever!!!
I passed on the Nexus S because I didn't want a Samsung Phone. I love the way HTC makes their phones. I bought into the hype about their phones feeling "cheap" and "plasticy".
I decided to replace my N1 with a Sensation which has been a pretty big disappointment.
When the GN was announced I decided to swallow my dislike for Samsung's phones and go for it. After reading about the specs it seemed like a decent phone, Nothing groundbreaking just decent maybe even a little sub par when compared to some of the top of the line phones. The only really stand out things about it are the software, which most of the top tier phones will be getting upgraded to at some point.
NFC? It's cool but I can't see using it that much. I think I've run into one other person that was using a Nexus phone and I didn't care to swap info with them. I'd probably pay for stuff with it but I still have to carry a wallet so it's not going to replace my debit card.
Camera? 5mp that's less than 8mp seems like a pretty big step down from what every "top tier" phone out there. Hopefully the low light performance will be really good but somehow I'm expecting disappointment.
Big Screen? I love it big, but then I read about the Galaxy Note.
Pure Google? I've been there with everything up to Gingerbread and I have to say it was barren. I'm on sense now and I've tried (a few times) giving it up to use ADW to get that stock launcher experience I didn't last long. Compared to Sense 3 (I think) Gingerbread is VERY ugly and misses out on a lot of niceties that I've grown accustomed to in Sense.
At least it'll probably get updates first.
It seems like every time I turn around some company is releasing a phone that bests the GN in every way, SGSII, RAZOR and today I read freaking LG has got a phone with a killer display more pixels or something like that.
With that in mind how do you keep your excitement up about this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I tried to use a SGSII but couldn't live with it. Was coming from a Nexus S and before that I owned a N1. It just didn't feel right. It came shipped with 2.3 then after some time 2.3.4 hit when I sold it a month ago 2.3.5 still wasn't official available. In addition they added a strange bootloader which stopped you from flashing CM7. I don't know exactly what happened there but it was one of the points which led me to sell the phone. I'm using a Desire now until I receive my 100% free GN.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

I'll probably just keep my NS for now. All other smartphones sound lame in comparison to the NS + Voodoo Sound.

Related

Coming From Iphone 4s ?

u guys think that it will be a good choice for me or not ?
This is an Android forum and more importantly an Android phone...what do you think people are going to tell you? Haha j/k
If it was apps you were worried about Android Market will probably overtake App Store in a year or two so I'd say go for it
It's personal preference but I'm sure you definitely wouldn't regret it. You seen Ice Cream Sandwich?!?! Daymmmm!
Yes, it will be a good choice.
Imagine the screen size only, that's enough to laugh about iPhone 4S tiny screen
x.Orville.x said:
u guys think that it will be a good choice for me or not ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea i know i the iphone 4s screen a little tiny calculator lol just selling mi 4s to get the nexus
From 4S to Galaxy Nexus.....it a huge jump. I would start with Nexus S first.
x.Orville.x said:
u guys think that it will be a good choice for me or not ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went from the iphone to the SGS2 and it didn't work for me I was told to try a pure google phone for what my needs were, I have not bought it yet as I'm waiting to see if it's going to be recalled or maybe get a phone from a fresh batch, the apps are somewhat different then on an iphone for an example is the pandora app for say if you turn it landscape you won't get the playlist you listened to during your secion(like you can't look back and see what you listen to and see all the album covers, some apps are better in android then on the iphone some I prefer some I don't JAMOP ,
justabrake said:
I went from the iphone to the SGS2 and it didn't work for me I was told to try a pure google phone for what my needs were, I have not bought it yet as I'm waiting to see if it's going to be recalled or maybe get a phone from a fresh batch, the apps are somewhat different then on an iphone for an example is the pandora app for say if you turn it landscape you won't get the playlist you listened to during your secion(like you can't look back and see what you listen to and see all the album covers, some apps are better in android then on the iphone some I prefer some I don't JAMOP ,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude. Use a period or two.
The iPhone is the top-of-the-line iOS device while the Nexus is the same for Android. The 4S won't have a successor for at least 6 months, while the Nexus could easily cruise a year. That being said, both will be outspecced pretty quickly by quadcore Android phones. Try the Nexus out, IceCreamSandwich is the main feature, as is the HD screen. If you don't like it, go back to the 4S, or wait for some new Android phones. The 4S and Nexus are almost on par in terms of hardware, and are both flagship devices. Either one is a great choice, just depends on your UI preference.
Sent from my Sensation using XDA App
I try to jump to a gs2 last summer but i dont liked and switched back to ios u guys think that the nexus will be outdated in a 3 or 4 months ? That's my main reason to get to phone when the gs3 come will be outdated or not ?
x.Orville.x said:
u guys think that it will be a good choice for me or not ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We can't make that decision for you !, I didn't like the SGS2 because of the OS matched up with the hardware, The hardware is all there but it doesn't really work together with it's OS, It's not like how apple puts together their phone everything works like a well oiled machine, it's just not there for some reason, it's all a matter of how one notices it. This is my opinion and I'm hopping for a better phone experience this time around with google as the hardware picker and maker of there OS ICS and definitely not samsung the plastiqek phone maker, I would have liked LG or HTC make it. JMO like it or not
I just made the jump from iOS (3Gs, 4, 4s) to an SGSII, and it will be hard to go back, for me. Customization and larger screens were my main reason for jumping, and I haven't been disappointed. iOS still wins for the ecosystem and interoperability elegance, but I am happy with my choice.
On a side note, my SGSII is going back (bought an unlocked Nexus S) because like the 4s, it is not compelling enough to use my upgrade on for two years. I'll see what comes out in 2012 for an upgrade.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Hemlocke said:
I just made the jump from iOS (3Gs, 4, 4s) to an SGSII, and it will be hard to go back, for me. Customization and larger screens were my main reason for jumping, and I haven't been disappointed. iOS still wins for the ecosystem and interoperability elegance, but I am happy with my choice.
On a side note, my SGSII is going back (bought an unlocked Nexus S) because like the 4s, it is not compelling enough to use my upgrade on for two years. I'll see what comes out in 2012 for an upgrade.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm buying this nexus outright and saved my upgrade for the iphone 5, I want the iphone 5 early shipped to me.
If you like to customize and do things like put ROMS, kernels, over clocking and such.
Android is now the way to go.......maybe in the past it was iOS but now they are pretty even.
Android is a lot better now especially with ICS....at least they finally decided to implement hardware acceleration -.- which is what iOS did since the beginning making it feel so much more fluid than android.
Anyways, if you sell your iPhone 4s, i would say get the GSII and save a few hundred bucks, especially since the Galaxy Nexus is costing more than the iPhone 4s even sells for. Then use that money when the GSIII or iPhone 5 come out.
I have both the iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus.
The iPhone 4S has superior build quality, camera and video recording, games, and vastly superior battery life.
The Galaxy Nexus has the best display I've ever seen, even better than Retina IMO! I can't believe people are bashing Super AMOLED HD or saying Retina is still way better. I have no complaints about the screen, its jaw dropping. Android 4.0 is the best OS out IMO as well. IOS 5 is cool and all, but I can't help but feel that Apple isn't innovating as fast as they should. Google literally redesigned and improved every aspect of Android in one update. In these past 4 years iOS looks nearly identical to how it did when it first launched, as well as many of the stock Apple apps. Every Google app got a giant facelift and improvement: YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps etc. And they look beautiful on this screen. The phone is pretty big overall but I'm getting used to it and its awesome. Performance is very good as well.
I've had the phone for roughly half a day and battery doesn't seem that good yet but I'll reserve judgment for a few more days.
I honestly can't believe Google improved Android this much in just one update. Its amazing.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
I agree. People dog the 4/4s because they will shatter, but the build quality and materials are excellent. It doesn't feel cheap.
I liked the SGSII, initially, but it has always felt cheap and the big screen has terrible resolution. I realized that Android was what would keep me here. I'm looking forward to some premium look and feel Android devices to match the potential of Android OS.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Just sell my 4s on ebay 588$ for it 16 gb ordering through expansys this week
x.Orville.x said:
I try to jump to a gs2 last summer but i dont liked and switched back to ios u guys think that the nexus will be outdated in a 3 or 4 months ? That's my main reason to get to phone when the gs3 come will be outdated or not ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the smartphone game EVERY phone that comes out is eclipsed in 3-4 months as far as specs are concerned, that's just the nature of the beast now. The thing about the iPhone and the Nexus phones are that there is only one device made every year despite all the other ones that come out with newer faster hardware or whathaveyou. The Nexus phones were designed to have hardware and software work hand in hand more so than any other Android phone. Both of the previous Nexus devices are the only ones running 2.3.6 (to my knowledge - and the NS4G has 2.3.7) which is one update ahead of everyone else - brand new phones are being launched with 2.3.5. If you're gonna make the jump, you're going to want the pure Google experience.
qreffie said:
In the smartphone game EVERY phone that comes out is eclipsed in 3-4 months as far as specs are concerned, that's just the nature of the beast now. The thing about the iPhone and the Nexus phones are that there is only one device made every year despite all the other ones that come out with newer faster hardware or whathaveyou. The Nexus phones were designed to have hardware and software work hand in hand more so than any other Android phone. Both of the previous Nexus devices are the only ones running 2.3.6 (to my knowledge - and the NS4G has 2.3.7) which is one update ahead of everyone else - brand new phones are being launched with 2.3.5. If you're gonna make the jump, you're going to want the pure Google experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The SG2 has been out for 7 months and is still one of the most powerful smartphones out there in terms of hardware.
gabster21 said:
The SG2 has been out for 7 months and is still one of the most powerful smartphones out there in terms of hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going to say that LOL but he's also mentioning a phone that come out once a year samsung puts out phones ever three months
That's because of the timing it launched in. With 4 cores around the corner things will change fast .
But I have to say this to OP, me personally I have no desires to go into contest of who has the longer piss, what matters to me is the user experience, as long as it is smooth and fast I don't care about hardware much as long as it would support the latest software. Because overtime all the wow effect will diminish and you'll be left with the software.
I would change from the iPhone to anything just because of the tiny screen.
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
kindiboy said:
That's because of the timing it launched in. With 4 cores around the corner things will change fast .
But I have to say this to OP, me personally I have no desires to go into contest of who has the longer piss, what matters to me is the user experience, as long as it is smooth and fast I don't care about hardware much as long as it would support the latest software. Because overtime all the wow effect will diminish and you'll be left with the software.
I would change from the iPhone to anything just because of the tiny screen.
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I left apple because iphone 4s wasn't an upgrade to me, I also wanted to try something different in life because I had the 2G 3G 3Gs 4 and wanted to see what else is out their and like I said the SGS2 was not for me and I would have turned back if someone didn't say give the google phone a try ( because of what I wanted in a phone ) So here I am waiting to purchase soon, just waiting for the first update and for the second batch to appear
from what I read on iclarified they said (speculation of course ) apple is working on a 4" phone That would be good and I hope they make both because a lot of people like using one hand when surfing and the iphone is great for that in size
http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=18327

Those of you that own a Galaxy-Nexus; are you happy ?

Curious the opinion of real owners of a Galaxy-Nexus, are you happy with your purchase ? Is it your favorite Android phone of all time ? I know only the European owners can tell me about the phone, which is slightly different than the CDMA version coming to the U.S., but overall do you like the new Nexus ?
I am looking to possibly leave the U.S. carrier Sprint, I have their Galaxy S 2, rooted with nice ROM, LOVE this phone, but hate Sprint service. Last few Sprint phones my Wife and Brother have as well, the worst network this year, 3G speeds in Chicago are like 1x Edge speeds at best, texting and receiving pictures is a pain, half don't go through, dropped calls have been happening more often the last couple of months.
So I might make the switch to Verizon, everyone I know with Verizon service swear by it as being rock solid, #1 call service, no dropped calls, very solid network. I use my phone a lot for business, and need a network that is faster and more stable.
And I am a huge Android fan, owned both the Nexus-One and Nexus-S 4G, and those were my favorite Android phones at the time I owned those. But Sprint is killing me.
It's a very solid device! You won't be disappointed!
Yes.
10char
I have had my SGN for a few days now. I got it from Expansys, who provided extremely good service in getting it to me! I am still learning how to use Android (this is my first android so it is slow learning ).
But the large, bright screen, ability to enlarge text (so my weak eyes can read it), ease of use, is a winner for me. So far, I have not run into any problems, so I am real pleased!
Extremely happy! I've been on android since getting the G1 on day one. This is by far the best device I've ever owned. You can look at all the youtube videos and reviews you want but once you get the phone in your hands you'll be blown away!
Love the device.
Hard to know whether it's ICS or the phone itself which stands out. ICS was very good on the Nexus S, but only really played with it as an SDK port. Hopefully will have chance to play with my old S when it officially gets ICS.
The screen (despite the weirdness on low brightness) is stunning, the OS is incredibly smooth and slick - it impresses me MUCH more than iOS which I've always loved for it's transitions and smoothness. Web browsing is also excellent - incredibly fast. Call and Audio quality are also excellent
The only drawback is that it's a little on the large side (sometimes hard to grab the notification bar with one hand)
I've come from the Nexus S, I'm not sure a GSII (once it gets ICS) would be much of a noticeable/fantastic upgrade though. Maybe more a sidegrade - although the shape of the GN, lack of hard/soft buttons & Screen curve do make it look massively pretty. It's also MUCH less common than the GSII & comes with pure Android - definitely a plus!
You won't be unhappy upgrading from a 2.3.x GS2 but as soon as the ICS official or custom ROM's hit it may well be a closer call!
Have had my GN for 9 days now and loving it. I have no regrets on buying it and highly enjoy both the hardware and vanilla android.
I do see what people say if the screen brightness is really low its doesn't look that great but I typically keep my screen set at 50% so its not a issue for me.
If I had to really point out a single thing that is probably the biggest drawback is the damn speaker is so quiet its basically useless unless your in a quiet environment. Driving down the highway with the music on quietly (drive a 08' bmw and its quiet inside) theres only a couple ringtones that are barely audible. My iphone speaker was loud enough to hear in all but the loudest places.
galaxy nexus
Love the screen love the size, the Chrome type browser is fantastic, however there are issues, why would you launch a new phone with no manual.Customer care at Samsung are unaware of the model of phone. The bug volume bug is now fixed but there is no flash which is ridicolous one of the primary reasons you chose android. Also the phone dialler ui is crap its all over the place and its complicated just for the sake if it.. Iam used to htc phones and in my opinion the tweak to the original ui is just the most simplistic thing to use..
I LOVE it! Especially when you can go to Wal Mart and get on a T-Mobile $30/m prepaid plan that gives you unlimited data and texts and 100 minutes with no contract, you'll end up breaking even in no time from Sprint.
It's not perfect but it's a fantastic device. Easily the best I've ever owned. Very happy with it.
I only wish they included gorilla glass. People can laugh at gorilla glass all they want but the fact for me is, my nexus already has 3 scratches on it. While my 1.5 y/o vibrant still looks brand spanking new.
Some who are coming from a GSII are disappointed. But that's really a lateral move, so otherwise, quite fantastic!
Very zippy. A great improvement over my N1 in terms of speed and function. Though I will miss the illuminated LED trackball.
What about voice/call quality!?
For example - huge improvement with a Razr over my ole' Droid Incredible.
What about the GNex?
seanmcd72 said:
What about voice/call quality!?
For example - huge improvement with a Razr over my ole' Droid Incredible.
What about the GNex?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my experience i find it better than the nexus s...
I had a galaxy s II and I enjoy the nexus more..
The Galaxy Nexus feels a lot better in the hand.. and I love the display and I particularly enjoy the lack of capacitive buttons on the front. Just staring at a 4.65" monolithic display with nothing to break up the sleek look.
Ice Cream Sandwich is really what brings it all together for me, though.. it's such a huge improvement over gingerbread.. it's hard for me to use the gmail app on gingerbread now..
This is easily the best android device I've ever owned.. even though the Galaxy S II has better specs, this device feels like it is in another league to me.
How are the network/wifi speeds? Is it 4G capable? Still trying to choose between this and the LG Optimus LTE.
I am really considering getting a Nexus to upgrade from my HTC Desire but I'm not sure if I should wait for a mobile phone with better hardware specifications (e.g. Quad-core processors) to be released if that is the case very soon or if I should just go with the Nexus.
I think it would be a big upgrade from my awesome Desire. The idea of a stock Android Google/Samsung phone makes things very exciting, as well. The only thing holding me back are the reviews going on about how the Nexus is the best Android phone on the market but isn't good enough to be a flagship phone because of it's hardware but it appears to be a wonderful device.
Did anyone here that owns a GSN come from a phone like the HTC Desire at all? I am trying to figure out this years Christmas gift to myself, you see!
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium
lathanub said:
I am really considering getting a Nexus to upgrade from my HTC Desire but I'm not sure if I should wait for a mobile phone with better hardware specifications (e.g. Quad-core processors) to be released if that is the case very soon or if I should just go with the Nexus.
I think it would be a big upgrade from my awesome Desire. The idea of a stock Android Google/Samsung phone makes things very exciting, as well. The only thing holding me back are the reviews going on about how the Nexus is the best Android phone on the market but isn't good enough to be a flagship phone because of it's hardware but it appears to be a wonderful device.
Did anyone here that owns a GSN come from a phone like the HTC Desire at all? I am trying to figure out this years Christmas gift to myself, you see!
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPGRADE I had an Inspire (a model up i think) and this phone is a HUGE upgrade! besides there wont be another nexus device for a good while yet so you will have less development options on them.
overall yes.
I'm looking forward to a lot of apps being updated to function on ics.
I don't get the same speeds as I was pulling on my skyrocket, but I would never know if I didn't run speedtest. My google music and everything else runs fast and smooth.
no regrets...
I'm very happy. The only bad thing abt the phone. It's written Samsung at the back...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

Thinking of upgrading to GSM Nexus from iPhone 4s. Some input..

I have been a longtime iPhone and Android user and currently I am using the iPhone 4s. It's a great phone, but I tend to miss Android and all that it offers.
Here is my question.. Does anyone think $690 for the GSM Nexus is worth it? I have been going back and forth on it and I think I would really like it, however I can never seem to keep an Android phone because nothing is really new with it.
Here is an example. I had the Verizon Thunderbolt, it was a nice phone, fast and really allowed Android to shine. I then saw the T-Mobile Sensation come out and it was a dual core with nice specs. Another really nice phone. But again, noting super new with Android. Not to mention T-Moble's network blows around here.
I hoped to ATT and I love the coverage and have tried the iPhone 4, 4s (current) and Skyrocket.
So, will Android 4 on the Nexus be new and improved enough to make the switch?
I should pay attention, I see the subsidized Verizon phone still is $300. Maybe $600+ is an ok price.
Honestly I only think paying full price for the GSM Nexus is worth it if you get the $30 Walmart plan on T-Mobile.
I personally have been using my GNex for about a month now and I bought it from one of the on-line retailers (paid $750BTW) and I would do it again in a heart beat. I personally have TMoUSA and the service is good in my area, everyone's mileage will vary. I had the iPhone and have not looked back after going with android
"Worth it" is completely arbitrary based on the person.
For me, it would be worth it. I hate iOS and all it stands for. I also don't being treated like a criminal for wanting root. I also think the iOS theme is butt-ugly.
I'm running pre-alphas of CM9 and they are working flawlessly. This bodes well for the future of the device.
Depends on your budget . I don't think you'll see too much of a difference in terms of performance though... and the GPU isn't that great compared to the iPhone. If you want more input, I suggest you using the search option in this forum and search something along the lines of Galaxy Nexus vs iPhone 4s
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The Galaxy Nexus is a really good phone, IMO the best Android out there (but then I'd never again buy a non-Google phone -- these are locked worse than the iPhone).
I love the big screen (came to it from a Nexus S) and ICS is a big improvement in terms of UI.
Having said that, the iPhone 4S still offers a smoother and more consistent user experience, IMO.
mycomputerisjunk said:
I should pay attention, I see the subsidized Verizon phone still is $300. Maybe $600+ is an ok price.
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You can get an unlocked 16gb Galaxy Nexus from negri electronics for about $625 shipped nowadays.
No one can tell you how "worth it" it is. Everyone has different qualifications. I'd be inclined to say that if you're going to be staying w/ AT&T and paying through the nose for service, its harder to swallow the ~$625 for an unlocked device.
It becomes more worth it when you go to a prepaid plan and cut your service cost in half every month.
So I would definitely recommend you walk into a Verizon store so you can play with it in person and make your assessment on whether or not you think Android 4 is good enough to justify your payment for the unlocked device. Obviously don't pay attention to the network speeds or anything as you'll be using on AT&T, but its a good idea to see it in person first.
mycomputerisjunk said:
Does anyone think $690 for the GSM Nexus is worth it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I paid $650 ($689 after tax)for a non-subsidized CDMA so I think so.
well coming from the SGS II(epic 4g touch)...........I LOVE THIS PHONE!!!....i got the CDMA(32gb) version with Verizon. Android 4.0 is a HUGE step from gingerbread, you'll love it. I would recommend going with Verizon though
Ye love it too, and the experience is definitely more changed than ever from 2.x to 4.0(eg. better than ever), so by those means, yes it's worth it.
However with an iphone 4s i would probably wait another year before upgrading.
You could watch Swappa if you're interested in trying to save a few hundred and go lightly used. There isn't much on there now, but may be more in the coming months. Beware of people maybe trying to unload their phones due to signal issues (CDMA at least). I've collected very mixed data on CDMA signal issues (I can't speak for GSM). Many people report 0 problems, and some report chronic problems even after phone swaps. I've seen some fixed after a swap, and in my case I had a tech swap my SIM card which helped a lot, and then updating to 4.03 radios *hopefully* fixed the problem.
Assuming my signal issues are fixed now and don't return, this phone is by far the best I've ever owned. A major jump forward coming from a Droid Incredible. CM9 is also amazing.
http://swappa.com/search?q=galaxy+nexus
Apples and oranges.. One is a fancy phone that runs apps, the other is a mini computer.
If you like customizing your phone past wallpapers and folders then it should be a clear and obvious answer
Sent from my Google phone
I mean...
dude i mean i got the gnex the day it came out and it was complete garbage i hated it it sucked so bad i lit it on fire..i mean i come from a rich background so i can afford to do those kinda things..
jk im not queer, but anyways i have the gnex and i love it. i hate ios and apple entirely and when i see all these kids at my school with iphones i just get heated. anyways..if you have the money to use on a gsm version by all means do so
mycomputerisjunk said:
I have been a longtime iPhone and Android user and currently I am using the iPhone 4s. It's a great phone, but I tend to miss Android and all that it offers.
Here is my question.. Does anyone think $690 for the GSM Nexus is worth it? I have been going back and forth on it and I think I would really like it, however I can never seem to keep an Android phone because nothing is really new with it.
Here is an example. I had the Verizon Thunderbolt, it was a nice phone, fast and really allowed Android to shine. I then saw the T-Mobile Sensation come out and it was a dual core with nice specs. Another really nice phone. But again, noting super new with Android. Not to mention T-Moble's network blows around here.
I hoped to ATT and I love the coverage and have tried the iPhone 4, 4s (current) and Skyrocket.
So, will Android 4 on the Nexus be new and improved enough to make the switch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes...........
The trouble with asking this kind of question in a galaxy nexus forum is your going to get a very biast opinion as everyone here, well mostly everyone here owns one and android users love android and apple love apple products.
Really the best advice is go and use one in a store and make up your own mind and of course watch some youtube videos about ics and gnex vs iPhone 4s. Then you be armed with the knowledge to make the right decisiin for you and your needs.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
I'd suggest going to your local Verizon store and play around with their Galaxy Nexus demo for a bit. I waited and cried about this phone not being released then when it finally was and I picked up I found myself questioning why and what about the phone was I going so crazy for and at the moment I'm a little regretful for not playing with the phone first and just ordering it online.
It's a nice phone and I know I'm a picky person but there was imo more bad than good and the stuff I think is bad may not necessarily be bad but just not as good as it should or could have been for the price and usually when I upgrade, which is once every few years when Verizon grants me a discount, I like to get the best I can get to last me those few years and the Galaxy Nexus isn't the best for me.
To be specific on the things I personally didn't care for were the camera, the battery life which is common in 4G phones but was a little worse in this phone than other 4G phones I've used. The screen was a let down, the colors and grainy banding in low light levels just looked horrible and the whole 4.65" largest screen thing was misleading to me as you hardly ever use the full screen because of the softkeys and worst of all for me was no USB Mass Storage which I used allot in my previous phone but that last one was my fault for not researching the phone more thoroughly prior to purchase.
I've always been an android user so I can't say anything bad about iOS devices although I have and use an iPad 2 and iPod touch 4 I can't imagine them being any worse as a phone.
If you can wait until the Samsung Galaxy S3, it's a beast. IMO, the Galaxy Nexus is already an outdated phone, and it will be more apparent when new phones start rolling out ICS.
Of course, there's a slew of other phones coming out in the next few months, so you'll have lots of options. That's just my opinion.
Only if you promise not to make threads about multi tasking or battery life if you end up not liking it. Which I am very sure you will like it.
Sent from my Nexus in Texas.
I've never owned an iPhone so maybe I'm not qualified to give my opinion, but I have handled various iPhones through the years. My buddy who's owned a couple summed it up best. The iPhone is a beautiful phone with an environment where everything "works." It's a device with a very closed, simple OS but amazing apps, where android is a very powerful, open (if you get something from the nexus line anyway) OS with decent apps. The apps make iPhone and the OS make Android.
If you crave freedom and are a power user, this is the phone for you. I've only owned android devices but I think apple makes a good phone. The problem lies in that if you want it do something that apple hasn't envisioned for the phone, then you are out of luck. Also, the iPhone 4 and up have great screens... but having owned 4inch screen and up phones for the last 2 years, it's pretty much impossible for me personally to go down to something under 4 inches. The thing just feels utterly tiny and limited with that little screen real estate.
As an aside, where Android has caught up with the UI on ICS, they really need to step up the game with their tablets. This is an area the iPad has every Android tablet beat, not even including the horsepower under the hood... device layout! I'm talking about the 4:3 format the iPad uses. Every powerful android tablet is in 16:9, and if you aren't watching movies it's a terrible aspect ratio. It's harder to hold and you give up a lot of usable area in portrait and in landscape. It works for computers with a dedicated keyboard and mouse, but on a huge touchscreen device, it's just awkward.
Edit: Biggest reason I will never own an iPhone is iTunes. Hate the program... huge bloatware on the computer and Apple forces you to use it if you want any sync with your computer. iCloud alleviates it somewhat, but it's just another way to trap you into the Apple ecosystem.

iPhone Envy

So I realize this thread might not go over well, but just looking for a little discussion to see where others stand.
I'm a die hard Googler. I currently own a Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7. I couldn't live without Gmail and its advanced feature set. I use Google+, Maps, Calendar, Contacts, Photos, Music, etc. on a daily basis and I truly believe that Google's services blow Apple's crappy iCloud junk out of the water. iOS is a constrained OS that isn't scalable enough to satisfy my inner geek (I've used iPhones enough in the past to have learned this the hard way).
This brings me to the iPhone 5. Even though I know iOS isn't for me, and even though I can't stand Apple's direction with respect to mobile devices, I find the hardware extremely appealing. The level of engineering is exceptional, and the overall fit and finish results in a device that looks and feels like a work of art. The best analogy I can think of is that the iPhone is the Mercedes Benz while most Android handsets are your typical Honda or Toyota.
Am I the only one that is desperate for somebody to step up and make us a solid, well built, powerful Android device? It seems like Samsung is addicted to plastic, HTC insists on spoiling their otherwise solid hardware by bloating the whole experience with the crapware known as Sense, Motorola is intent on releasing 20 versions of the same funny looking device, and the rest are spinning their wheels. If somebody were to step up and offer an Android handset that had external appeal comparable to the iPhone, I am confident it would be the nail in the coffin for Apple's smartphone sales.
RANT COMPLETE
I hear what you're saying. While I want nothing to do with with the iphone, I could agree that maybe manufacturers could pay more attention to the form factor of most android devices. Don't get me wrong, I think my Nexus devices are gorgeous.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I agree with you 100 percent. When the iPhone 4 came out, it was hands down most sexiest looking phone out there. Their build quality feels amazing in the hand. I would have loved a phone that looked like that and ran android. Obviously the fragile ness is a downside as well as the early radio weakness aka death grip. The galaxy nexus was a huge step up in design for android and I think is still the best looking android device. I really hope manufacturers improve design. Even though functionality is great, I wasn't a fan of the SII or the SIII's design. The Sony Xperia phones are nice too but so far almost all android phones look the same. But damn is the Gnex sexy as hell especially when the screen is off.
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iPhones all look the same to me, since the first one, and personally I think the hardware/software of Nexus line devices are very well put together. I can agree that other manufacturer Androids tend to lack in solid design and hardware/software being well built for each other, but I strongly believe the Nexus is the solution for that issue. I feel no envy towards the iPhone 5.
Honest opinion without any need to bash on Apple.
Sent from my AOSP Android 4.1.1 Galaxy Nexus.
I have to admit, even though the iPhone 5 is more of the same from 4/4s it is a nice looking and high quality phone. Android OEM's would do well to step up this area. And personally I don't mind plastic phones if the quality of the plastic is good, and the fit and finish are pleasing. I haven't inspected the gs3 up close yet but have played with one several times. It is a nice phone and very comfy in the hand. But Samsung would do well to mix up its image a little and come out with a metal phone or two, albeit engineered to overcome the reception issues that are possible with metal phones. Really wish Nokia had jumped in the android boat. They had a handset for everybody.
need more high def music...
I do like the build quality of the iphone as well. But I've also been thrilled in every way, shape and form with the GNex. And hey, drop either of'm and I'd say the Nexus has a better chance of no damage.
Yes, the iphone5 is a beautiful phone as far as hardware is concerned. In my opinion, The only manufacturer who can keep up with appealing hardware at the moment is HTC (I like their One series designs, but to each their own).
On top of hardware designs, I believe Android is also lacking one other "feature" compared to the iPhone. I intentionally use the quotes, because I am referring to the lack of quality accessories that are available for us to choose from. Apple did well with their aftermarket electronic accessories because they were supported very well by other companies. Android can't really do this, because we have so many different form factors when it comes to hardware, and the major one being the location of the charging port on each phone. If Android standardized the location of the charging port, accessories would be much easier to engineer for Android. However, this may be an after-thought soon since we have NFC and there would be no need for a physical connection between accessories and the phone itself. The lack of NFC and the changed connector will be the downfall of the iPhone.
And lastly, my biggest gripe has to do with the quality control of Android manufacturers. I've personally only ever had Sammy Androids, but I gotta say, they suck at QC. My Droid Charge had sporadic radio issues, resulting in crackling voice calls regardless of radio updates. Now I'm on the Gnex and I've yet to see someone who has a FLAWLESS screen. Purple tinting, banding, burn-ins, low brightness issues...
Regardless, I am not going to support Apple at this day and age. Not a fan of their business practice, and I don't like being associated with the majority of iPhone user who aimlessly throw their money at a shiny new toy w/o knowing much about it.
sure the iphone is sexy that you cannot deny and that has always been how Apple does things. They put a great deal in designing an attractive product so that it appeals to the mass market who sometimes do not care about the functionality, performance, and hardware specs. This has helped them tremendously in getting people buying the phone because of its looks.
It is hard for the other manufacturers to compete against Apple since not only they have to compete in the industrial design but also compete in the hardware specs. I have to say, with non-iPhone devices, HTC seemed to be the most creative in terms of design with their latest One lines. They make one sexy phone that is packed with features. Unfortunately, it does not get as much attention as Samsung device because people are very locked into the whole Galaxy line of product as Samsung has already established its name and branding with it. In the Windows front, I think Nokia is doing a great job and it always has been quite good at designing hardware that looks good. But sadly for Nokia, Windows Phone is just not as popular as Android.
Not a fan of ANY apple OS nor am I a fan of their business practices, However their design and quality is extremely appealing. Jony Ivey has done an incredible job at apple and is probably the real factor behind their success, purely on aesthetics.
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I like the rectangular shape and rounded corners.:good:
I love android os but the Nokia devices aiming out look even better than the iPhone IMHO. The current Nokia hardware looks good enough I might have to try windows phone 8 instead of android for my next phone.
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If I could get an iPhone 5 running stock JB perfectly, I would switch in a second.
Having said that, anyone see Engadget's battery rundown test? 11 hours of battery looping a video with LTE on? I hope this sets the bar for future devices in the industry. I don't care that the iPhone did it, I just hope that other manufacturers follow suit.
Clyzm said:
If I could get an iPhone 5 running stock JB perfectly, I would switch in a second.
Having said that, anyone see Engadget's battery rundown test? 11 hours of battery looping a video with LTE on? I hope this sets the bar for future devices in the industry. I don't care that the iPhone did it, I just hope that other manufacturers follow suit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They'd get sued.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
KIRF ODMs and homebrew devs never get sued, I don't know what you're talking about.
I agree with your entire statement smacman.
I have a Gnex and Nexus 7 and I'm a diehard Droid fan too. I have never owned an Apple product ever.. but....
They have the best fit and finish, build quality and polish by far. Also, the A6 CPU is the best in the market now. Did you see the Java scores? Like SunSpider Javascript.. Blazing fast.
I actually considered a switch to the dark side and get an iPhone5. They only thing holding me back was the lack of simultaneous voice and data on CDMA carriers, even with LTE.
http://betanews.com/2012/09/14/veri...till-doesnt-have-simultaneous-voice-and-data/
I hope the Android developers and manufactures step up.
The iPhone 5's hardware is definitely better looking than any other device IMHO but I can't stand iOS. I like the screen size as well.
cropythy said:
I love android os but the Nokia devices aiming out look even better than the iPhone IMHO. The current Nokia hardware looks good enough I might have to try windows phone 8 instead of android for my next phone.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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Click to collapse
I had a couple wp7 phones and trust me, the os leaves a lot to be desired.
the app store is a barren wasteland, multitasking hardly works and little things left out (like being able to control separate volumes, like headset and ringtone, or ringtone and alarm)
OP, I agree with many of your points. I dislike Apple and I hate itunes even more but I am jealous of their systematic update process and dammit everything just works approach. My wife has an iPhone 4 so I get to play with one daily. Even apps that are available on both platforms seem more polished on iO6, I realize there are a number of reasons for this.
I too have a GN and an N7. I love the openness and customization of Android but frankly I'm getting way too busy with real life to keep tweaking and adjusting. And while fragmentation has become the big buzz word this year it has annoyed me since I purchased my first Android phone 2 years ago (Samsung Captivate). 5 android phones later and it's still a big problem. Meanwhile my wife's iPhone 4 which she purchased at the same time just got iO6.
Btw, my 2 "Nexus" devices aren't even running the same os (If you tell me to root my phone or buy a GSM Nexus I will yell at you very loudly while throwing rotten eggs).
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
http://android-sale.com/goophone-i5.html
get a goophone lol
I think it all comes down to one thing and one thing only. Personal Preference
I own an iPhone 4 (For work) and a GNex
I love my Android phone because of what it can do for me. I can tweak it, customize it, and know that I can do everything on it.
My iPhone? Meh, A big brick of glass in my opinion. It's broken the minute it gets dropped. But some people like what it has to offer. It's simplistic in the sense that things work (I've seen a few people say this in the thread) BUT the only reason it works is because you have to do things their way. (iTunes sync, 1 computer at a time, etc) There are a lot of things that fail when it comes to the iPhone that a lot of people hate. That's why they go elsewhere beyond Apple. The one thing you cannot deny though is how good Apples marketing is. They're extremely well known. Because of this they have a lot of loyal, blind, fans. Even though they don't know the specs, release dates, etc. They want what is essentially great marketing.
Now I personally believe that if you were to sit everyone down and hand them 3 phones (An iPhone, Windows phone and an Android phone) It would probably be pretty even across the board. Why? Personal Preference.
At the end of the day Apple is still going to be playing catch up to everyone else. Why isn't the iphone 5 an HD device? The resolution is sub par considering everything is HD now.
I'll end with that I'd much rather have a Windows phone that is truly simplistic in every sense of the word than another iPhone. For those of you who think that the iPhone 5 is a beautiful piece of great hardware? I point you to the HTC 8X, a Windows phone that's exceptionally beautiful.

Confessions of a young Fanboy

Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Tl;dr
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We all have our wish lists for that single, perfect phone. I know I certainly do. Whether it's the IPhone's/HTC's/Sony's great hardware/build quality, or the pure Android experience offered with Nexus, or Samsung's wide array of software features/apps, the "perfect" one.
I love technology and I love my smartphone. I love rooting, flashing, trying out a thousand different things on my phone. But why should I care about it (the smartphone) so much? Of course I have invested lots of money into my smartphone, but it's not healthy to be consumed so much by smartphone. I know I'm going a bit off-topic, but really I'm just trying to tell you, just get a phone for what it really was for, to call, to text. I know apps are so convenient nowadays because we have everything in a device, but sometimes it's not bad to do it old-fashioned.
Get a phone that you will use now and a while. Get a phone that can serve its purpose. While a phone may have many features or many apps, I highly doubt a student or a professional will find use for it every single hour of the day. Most of us I assume probably aren't developers, and even as hobbies, it shouldn't consume much time.
GG2012 said:
We all have our wish lists for that single, perfect phone. I know I certainly do. Whether it's the IPhone's/HTC's/Sony's great hardware/build quality, or the pure Android experience offered with Nexus, or Samsung's wide array of software features/apps, the "perfect" one.
I love technology and I love my smartphone. I love rooting, flashing, trying out a thousand different things on my phone. But why should I care about it (the smartphone) so much? Of course I have invested lots of money into my smartphone, but it's not healthy to be consumed so much by smartphone. I know I'm going a bit off-topic, but really I'm just trying to tell you, just get a phone for what it really was for, to call, to text. I know apps are so convenient nowadays because we have everything in a device, but sometimes it's not bad to do it old-fashioned.
Get a phone that you will use now and a while. Get a phone that can serve its purpose. While a phone may have many features or many apps, I highly doubt a student or a professional will find use for it every single hour of the day. Most of us I assume probably aren't developers, and even as hobbies, it shouldn't consume much time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is by far the best advice I have seen on xda ...ever.
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ywindlass said:
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back when you were content with your phone(s), things were growing much slower than they are now. At the current rate that phones are being released, it's guaranteed that there will be a new and better phone that you will want within the first year. Companies don't want you to be content with a phone for too long. I bet Samsung has better features right now that could have been added to the s4, but they want to save those for the s5.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
I agree on almost all of your points. I've had my share of android phones (G1, Moto Charm, G2x, and now Galaxy S3) and I'm beginning to become disappointed with the experience of this phone compared to that of a newer android device or even an iPhone and it's been only 8 months since I've purchased it. I don't quite agree with you on the music issue as I'm a music junkie myself with a 7 gig library but poweramp has transformed my android music listening experience into a great one.
Back to the S3, I've found that the battery life and build quality have been very sub par for me. Plus the pentile display is nothing to rave about either. Being only a sophomore in high school and tied to my family's family plan on T-Mobile, I really don't have an option to switch. I desperately want a Note 2 or Nexus 4 but financially I'm screwed. Even with the Nexus 4's low price I'd have to wait for the rumored 32gb version for storage reasons but that'd set me back $400 for shipping and tax. The S3 isn't even worth that anymore used.
All in all, I feel as if I should've waited for the Note 2 or Nexus 4 before getting the S3. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome device that's suits all of my needs fine but there are definitely better choices out there from the perspective of a critical tech junkie such as myself.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
You can see the phones I've had in my signature, all 3 Nokias were indestructible...the old flip phone, I threw it at a wall and it exploded into a million pieces, put it back together and the thing still works...man they really knew how to build phones...
The Nexus One was a great phone. I had to drop it and break the internal screen (oddly enough the outer glass didn't crack at all.). But it felt great in my hand, it was very solid and built well.
The Nexus S was kind of disappointing I have to say...Almost completely the same specs and I felt it wasn't built as well. I sold it for my GS-II
That stupid thing was the retarded stepchild of the S-II fleet...the poor developers were stuck with GB while T-Mobile picked its ass holding back all the updates. ****ty screen for sure, visible display flaws, poor PPI, cheap feeling...I never wanted to get a Samsung again. But I did...
The S-III was a huge improvement to say the least...I'm very satisfied with it. It does feel cheaper than say my old N1, but I think it feels a lot better than the NS or t989. Honestly with a screen protector and an otterbox commuter case, it's just fine. And as long as I have my Cyanogenmod, I don't care what software the thing comes with . Barring anything crazy coming out anytime soon, I don't see myself getting another phone until this falls apart.
In my eyes, as cliche as it may be, since my most important factors are Cyanogenmod and otterbox (or equivalent) case availability, all I care about are the specs. I sure hope screens stop ****in growing though...this one is almost too big as it is...
BTW: I sold my t989 on eBay for $350, all I had to do was unlock the thing, instantly increases it's value by a good $150. Always unlock your phone before you sell it, it will sell for much more.
nyyankees1237 said:
I agree on almost all of your points. I've had my share of android phones (G1, Moto Charm, G2x, and now Galaxy S3) and I'm beginning to become disappointed with the experience of this phone compared to that of a newer android device or even an iPhone and it's been only 8 months since I've purchased it. I don't quite agree with you on the music issue as I'm a music junkie myself with a 7 gig library but poweramp has transformed my android music listening experience into a great one.
Back to the S3, I've found that the battery life and build quality have been very sub par for me. Plus the pentile display is nothing to rave about either. Being only a sophomore in high school and tied to my family's family plan on T-Mobile, I really don't have an option to switch. I desperately want a Note 2 or Nexus 4 but financially I'm screwed. Even with the Nexus 4's low price I'd have to wait for the rumored 32gb version for storage reasons but that'd set me back $400 for shipping and tax. The S3 isn't even worth that anymore used.
All in all, I feel as if I should've waited for the Note 2 or Nexus 4 before getting the S3. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome device that's suits all of my needs fine but there are definitely better choices out there from the perspective of a critical tech junkie such as myself.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Referring to the music, my library exceeds 30 gigs and I've just found it irritating to sync and manage. Not a huge issue though. I think we're on the same page though. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks that way about the device. The thing is that I can get the HTC One spending all of my current savings, but then of course that means no new phone in the coming months. And Later this year there are just too many rumors about this "X Phone" and the new nexus... Idk.
zander21510 said:
In my eyes, as cliche as it may be, since my most important factors are Cyanogenmod and otterbox (or equivalent) case availability, all I care about are the specs. I sure hope screens stop ****in growing though...this one is almost too big as it is...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see where you're coming from. I got a huge Seido case for my S3, and then took it off after about a month. I dropped it afterwards (about 9 feet onto my subwoofer, long story) and nothing happened luckily. I like it better without a case. I guess looks would be a smaller factor then. Maybe, I should just snap that huge case back on and try to hold out until the holiday season... Idk lol. Thanks for the reply. :good:
I agree, I'll wait for the next nexus or galaxy note 3 with some saved money.
Perfect phone for me though:
High quality metal build (aluminum perhaps)
1080p 5+inch screen
3000mah+ battery
2ghz quadcore processor
2gb+ ram
Micro SD card slot
64gb+ internal storage
Stock android (for nexus updates)
8+ megapixel camera
Front facing speakers
Not insanely expensive lol
A guy could dream. Can anyone get it right?
ywindlass said:
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Companies are getting us used to crave new things within very short periods of time, an example of this is the fact that new phones, tablets or any kind of electronics pop every 4 to 6 months, which is done to satisfy our non-basic needs of always having the latest gadgets, and to create more profits or economic growth for the typical capitalist corporations. We've been spoiled to have new tech very fast, which is in a way bad as this craving (or addiction?) can easily go out control and we can be left bored with very new gadgets in our hands or even go into debt t o satisfy this craving for more. This spoiling behavior makes us feel the need to want more or not to be satisfied with what we have and we can quickly become slaves of technology if we dive too deep into it, hence what you are feeling when you say that you are growing unimpressed with so many innovations or not satisfied or please with the current technology. Perhaps I'm going a bit of topic, but is worth to be aware where we stand as consumers and the invisible ways corporations play with our "addictions" or "needs" for the latest.
I love the looks of both the Nexus 4 and the HTC one better than my Galaxy S3, but no removeable battery and no expandable memory? Get serious? I can deal with a plasic back, the price I paid tells me it's not cheap! Anyways, I don't agree with anything else you said. This phone was awesomly fast out of the box and now I have a custom ROM that even improved on that. Plus, I prefer Samoleds although I admit Samsung could do better. A 1080p screen with Super Amoled + with a different pentile arrangement would be nice. My next phone is most likely to be the Note 3, Samsung is just at the edge of innovation right now, too much so for me not to buy. Can't wait!
nyyankees1237 said:
A guy could dream. Can anyone get it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say my dream phone would be:
-1080p 4.75in (no bigger, no smaller) super-fancy spaceage whatever screen that can actually get its brightness as low as possible at night, and stays clear and readable in direct sunlight...
-1.5ghz+ ultra-energy efficient 4+ core processor.
-2GB+ RAM
-Micro SD card
-16+ GB internal storage
-Removable back cover and battery
-NFC, Barometer, compass, so many sensors I can start a weatherstation lol.
-Vibration with adjustable intensity from barely felt to earthquake magnitude.
-Latest Cyanogenmod stock, with options to auto-update to stable, M, or nightly releases (a guy can dream...)
-A rear camera that can shoot 1080P video and instant-shutter, no noise high quality pictures, and a front camera capable of doing an HD Skype call.
-2 front-firing speakers (one on bottom, one on top that doubles as earpiece); a rear-facing mic for the camera, and a bottom-facing mic for phone calls
-Capacative buttons underneath screen (menu, home, back in that order)
-24-hour runtime battery
-Body of carbon fiber (the durabilty of plastic with the feel of metal)
-Super gorilla glass whatever that can withstand a 5-foot face-down drop.
I would pay a good $450 for that phone.
Can't forget the holographic keyboard.
Scores over 10,000 on quadrant, I saw a stock HTC one today score 9133 on quadrant running stock 4.1.2. That was impressive.
I like your dream phone.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
zander21510 said:
I would say my dream phone would be:
-1080p 4.75in (no bigger, no smaller) super-fancy spaceage whatever screen that can actually get its brightness as low as possible at night, and stays clear and readable in direct sunlight...
-1.5ghz+ ultra-energy efficient 4+ core processor.
-2GB+ RAM
-Micro SD card
-16+ GB internal storage
-Removable back cover and battery
-NFC, Barometer, compass, so many sensors I can start a weatherstation lol.
-Vibration with adjustable intensity from barely felt to earthquake magnitude.
-Latest Cyanogenmod stock, with options to auto-update to stable, M, or nightly releases (a guy can dream...)
-A rear camera that can shoot 1080P video and instant-shutter, no noise high quality pictures, and a front camera capable of doing an HD Skype call.
-2 front-firing speakers (one on bottom, one on top that doubles as earpiece); a rear-facing mic for the camera, and a bottom-facing mic for phone calls
-Capacative buttons underneath screen (menu, home, back in that order)
-24-hour runtime battery
-Body of carbon fiber (the durabilty of plastic with the feel of metal)
-Super gorilla glass whatever that can withstand a 5-foot face-down drop.
I would pay a good $450 for that phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll take two! Haha
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
The power of a desktop computer, specifically i7 3770k, gtx 580 sli x3, 24gb ram, 256gb sd, all in a sexy Nokia n9 form, running windows 8.
Thats my dream phone. Seems realistic enough.
---------- Post added at 11:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 PM ----------
ywindlass said:
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
" I want something sexy that works well"
Get a cerulean n9. Though the s3 hardware is very much superior to the n9, the n9 just wins hands down IMHO.
I have both phone and u would pick the n9 over the s3 any day of I didn't water damage the power switch on my n9.. Grrr Seattle rain..
wardoc22 said:
The power of a desktop computer, specifically i7 3770k, gtx 580 sli x3, 24gb ram, 256gb sd, all in a sexy Nokia n9 form, running windows 8.
Thats my dream phone. Seems realistic enough.
---------- Post added at 11:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 PM ----------
" I want something sexy that works well"
Get a cerulean n9. Though the s3 hardware is very much superior to the n9, the n9 just wins hands down IMHO.
I have both phone and u would pick the n9 over the s3 any day of I didn't water damage the power switch on my n9.. Grrr Seattle rain..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those specs would definitely be amazing haha. But yeah, I did end up getting the HTC one, and I think I'm happier. I havent even rooted yet and I'm still content. It just works so well. Everything is so clean and sexy.
nyyankees1237 said:
I agree, I'll wait for the next nexus or galaxy note 3 with some saved money.
Perfect phone for me though:
High quality metal build (aluminum perhaps)
1080p 5+inch screen
3000mah+ battery
2ghz quadcore processor
2gb+ ram
Micro SD card slot
64gb+ internal storage
Stock android (for nexus updates)
8+ megapixel camera
Front facing speakers
Not insanely expensive lol
Perfect phone for me though:
A guy could dream. Can anyone get it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By your specs, would the Google S4 be it?
BTW, my dream specs:
1080p 5+inch screen
3000mah+battery
2ghz quadcore processor
3gb ram
Micro SD card slot
128gb+internal storage
Stock android
12+MP camera
4+MP front camera
Wireless charging
Front facing speakers
FM radio (for my mom)
LTE
Inexpensive
wardoc22 said:
Grrr Seattle rain..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rain? Seattle? Pfft.....
Thetenthdr said:
Rain? Seattle? Pfft.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It rains here 24.7 in the winter.
Yes, yes it does.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

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