Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#51

Post by moskie » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:45 PM UTC

I have a Galaxy Nexus on Verizon, and live in the Bay Area, so I currently enjoy having decent LTE connectivity. I'm torn about whether I want to get the Nexus 4.

I'd really like to see some side-by-side comparisons of performance on things like web browsing, audio streaming, downloading/installing stuff from the Play store, etc. Does the increased speed of the device make up for the decreased speed of the network?

Also: is it worth considering getting the Nexus 4, and switching to another cell provider that would provide the best speeds for the antennas that the Nexus 4 has?

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#52

Post by Jare » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:45 PM UTC

kareemm wrote: post #37

Does anybody else find it strange that in a glowing review of this phone, the reviewer included nothing about actually, you know, making phone calls ?

No, not anymore.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#53

Post by mpolun » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:46 PM UTC

rhizome wrote: post #18

srathi wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has 4G, just not LTE.

HSDPA+ is not 4G.

neither is LTE (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G#Technical_definition). Although both are marketed as 4G.

LTE is usually faster than HSDPA+, but neither one is actually 4G.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#54

Post by Nowyouknow » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:46 PM UTC

sehrope wrote: post #29

I'm still on the original grandfathered unlimited iPhone data plan from AT&T. I've upgraded the phone a couple of times (3G -> 4 -> 4S) with no issues but looking into an Android device next. Does anyone have any experience with switching to a non iPhone? Any issues from AT&T and do they let you keep the legacy plan?

All you have to do is swap out the sim card, keep in mind the Nexus uses a micro-sim, which I think the iPhone uses anyways.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#55

Post by yardie » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:46 PM UTC

bitcartel wrote: post #32

Some people will be unhappy because it doesn't have LTE, or a removable battery or a micro-SD expansion slot. However, there are probably other phones which do have the right mix of features and form factor. That's the nice thing about Android, consumers have a lot of choice.

As long as your choice is Android :).

The smartphone market in general has a lot of choice and robust competition. And the last year has taught me to worry less and just get on with it. I just bought the Nexus 7 to complement my 4S and iPad. I might just get the Nexus 4 once I get my hands on it. And the Nokia 920 looks appealing. But only one of these can be my daily driver, which is something the product reviews neglect, unfortunately.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#56

Post by Timmy_C » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:52 PM UTC

kareemm wrote: post #37

Does anybody else find it strange that in a glowing review of this phone, the reviewer included nothing about actually, you know, making phone calls ?

This phone uses the same radio for making phone calls as any other GSM phone.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#57

Post by polshaw » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:52 PM UTC

ck2 wrote: post #15

Isn't the second major flaw no microsd slot? Or am I confusing phones? That's a really nasty trend for android phones.

It is.

Galaxy nexus, nexus 7 and nexus 4... I would have bought them all if they had a microSD.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#58

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:52 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#59

Post by runjake » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:52 PM UTC

gizzlon wrote: post #34

ch0x wrote: post #21

I'm having a terrible first world problem: I want to use both Nexus 4 and iPhone 5. It's literally making me insane. I currently own iPhone 5 but each time I read Nexus reviews, I want to get Nexus 4. I can't use both as I have just one phone number. Perhaps I'll get Nexus 4 and just switch the sim card around. That's terrible. ARGH.

If that's literally making you insane, I'd say you have worse problems.. BTW, Many carriers offer 2 sim's with the same number.

BTW, Many carriers offer 2 sim's with the same number.

Name a single carrier that does that. In the US, not a single carrier does that. That's not how it works.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#60

Post by greenmountin » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 4:54 PM UTC

harshreality wrote: post #20

ck2 wrote: post #15

Isn't the second major flaw no microsd slot? Or am I confusing phones? That's a really nasty trend for android phones.

It's on purpose. http://www.androidcentral.com/why-nexus-devices-have-no-sd-c... I would rather have an sdcard slot, but I understand google's concern, and it's not a must-have feature to me. Maybe eventually they'll design some sort of clever unified storage system, but I don't imagine that google-branded devices will see microsd slots return as long as the storage is fragmented.

This and the cloud explanation: they just aren't reasonable.

The real reason why this is happening is because OEM's need something to differentiate within their own line so that they can practice optimal price discrimination. Given that the buyer has already decided what they want, the OEM wants to be able to charge them as much as they'll pay.

The RAZR HD differentiates with the battery (MAXX), which is why they can afford to have a card slot. The Nexus 7 w/ 3G can't possibly cost an extra $100 to manufacture, but if you have $100 burning a hole in your pocket, they'll be glad to sell you an upgrade just because.

The Nexus 4 (and various Apple models) do this with memory.