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Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

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Re: Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

#131

Post by rayiner »

corresation wrote: post #130
sp332 wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The web is still mainly vertical with limited horizontal space used. This is for readability, since it's hard to keep track of very long lines. Shorter screens were chosen because they are a lot cheaper to make than squarer ones. But when Google made their aspirational $1,300 web browsing computer, the Chrome Pixel, it had a 3:2 aspect ratio because that's a much better experience.

That "cheaper to make" thing is based upon absolutely nothing whatsoever, likely as a repurposing of the somewhat factually based reason why 16:9 panels overtook 16:10 (though that's completely irrelevant in this context, given that the Nexus is 16:10). Regarding the Pixel -- a device with shockingly little deployment (and whose form was driven by a lot more than the idea screen size) -- 3:2 is 1.5:1. The iPad is 1.3…

The punchline here is, of course, that the iPad is the one with the wider screen.

Re: Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

#132

Post by yareally »

mrbrowning wrote: post #65
igravious wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I should add that Jelly Bean was the first version of Android that I noticed to lose all traces of lagginess and be comparable response-wise to any iPhone or iPad I've used. Apple nailed this UX from the get-go, it took a while for Google to nail this I feel; also perhaps unoptimized Android devices were not helping matters. My HTC and Nexus, both with Jelly Bean are as smooth as, um, butter.

I don't want to over-generalize based on one data point, but on my Galaxy Nexus I noticed that 4.2 pretty handily undid all of the improvements that 4.1 managed in this arena. It was indeed a paradise of smoothness for that one point release, though.

I'll be building 4.3 for the gnexus after it syncs, so we'll see how it is.

Re: Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

#133

Post by NicoJuicy »

oscilloscope wrote: post #129
scott_karana wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Screen "niceness" constitutes far more factors than just DPI. It could be contrast ratio, colour gamut, brightness, subpixel quality, viewing angles, reflectivity of coating, susceptibility to oils/fingerprints... (I haven't used either, I'm just saying)

I've used both. I prefer the Mini's screen to the old N7: larger viewing angles, better color saturation/accuracy, less backlight bleed, smaller bezel. The iPad Mini Retina will likely be the perfect small tablet for most users.

And what's the price difference? :P

Re: Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

#134

Post by igravious »

anigbrowl wrote: post #122
igravious wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I should add that Jelly Bean was the first version of Android that I noticed to lose all traces of lagginess and be comparable response-wise to any iPhone or iPad I've used. Apple nailed this UX from the get-go, it took a while for Google to nail this I feel; also perhaps unoptimized Android devices were not helping matters. My HTC and Nexus, both with Jelly Bean are as smooth as, um, butter.

I started with a Nexus One and have purchased 5 android devices altogether. I'd consider myself a Google fanboy, and rely heavily on their service platform. But the next tablet I get will have to be an iPad or Surface Pro, because I make music and all the tablet-based music software worth talking about is on iOS. Google largely ignored the creative market in developing Android and made no effort to address concerns a…

That's great to hear. Apple have always targeted content producers (music/video/graphics/...?) and I'm glad that this has carried over to their tablets.

I hope in time that Android gets the same amount of attention because those apps will eventually bolster the Linux ecosystem in general. It's great to hear that Fruity Loops is available for Android, I remember a Mac-head showing me an early version of it like 15 years ago! Ouch, I feel old.

Re: Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

#135

Post by sp332 »

corresation wrote: post #130
sp332 wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The web is still mainly vertical with limited horizontal space used. This is for readability, since it's hard to keep track of very long lines. Shorter screens were chosen because they are a lot cheaper to make than squarer ones. But when Google made their aspirational $1,300 web browsing computer, the Chrome Pixel, it had a 3:2 aspect ratio because that's a much better experience.

That "cheaper to make" thing is based upon absolutely nothing whatsoever, likely as a repurposing of the somewhat factually based reason why 16:9 panels overtook 16:10 (though that's completely irrelevant in this context, given that the Nexus is 16:10). Regarding the Pixel -- a device with shockingly little deployment (and whose form was driven by a lot more than the idea screen size) -- 3:2 is 1.5:1. The iPad is 1.3…

A15" diagonal screen has much less area at 16:9 than at 4:3. That's why it's cheaper.

Anyway, how can you say websites are more horizontal than vertical? On any kind if site, you are much more likely to have to scroll vertically to get what you want. That means increasing visible vertical space improves your experience more than adding horizontal space will.

Edit: I run my web browser in the left half of my 1920x1200 screens because when I maximize them I feel like the window is much too empty. So there's room for preferences, of course. But I think most content on the web is taller than it is wide.

Re: Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

#136

Post by EpicEng »

cheald wrote: post #113
megablast wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since I got my ipad mini, I have not really used my nexus, only for debugging my apps. The battery, screen, speed and so were all worse, and I never got used to the os as much as I have for iOS. If I didn't need an android tablet, I probably would not have one.

Uh, the iPad Mini's screen is 1024-by-768/163 PPI. The first-gen N7's is 1280x800/216 ppi. The N7's screen is noticeably nicer. I can't speak to battery or speed as I haven't had a lot of hands-on time with the Mini, but I will note that the N7's slimmer aspect ratio means it fits nicely in a pocket, while the iPad Mini just plain doesn't.

That's like saying that all 8MP sensors are better than all 5MP sensors just because they stuff more pixels on the sensor. Of course, that's not true.

Re: Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

#137

Post by jrockway »

nileshtrivedi wrote: post #117
jrockway wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is Ad-Hoc networking useful for anything other than creating an access point called "Free Public Wifi" and then installing viruses on the Windows machines that connect? (OK, most wireless chipsets can simulate Infrastructure-mode networks these days, so not supporting Ad-Hoc mode doesn't help much in that department.)

You misunderstand. You can already create access point on Android. The bug is about Android not being able to connect to ad-hoc WiFi networks (say, one created on your laptop whose chipset doesn't support infra-mode). (edit: Also want to mention that iOS devices have supported this ad-hoc networking from Day 1). There are a number of use-cases reported on that bug: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=8…

I don't misunderstand, but I did forget the obligatory smiley at the end of the comment ;)

Re: Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

#138

Post by StavrosK »

deelowe wrote: post #45
rorrr2 wrote: post #26

I wonder if they ever resolved the storage deterioration problem. "One year later, the Nexus 7 has gone from the best to worst tablet I’ve ever owned" http://androidandme.com/2013/06/opinions/one-year-later-the-...

Both my n7 and galaxy nexus have this type of problem. It seemed to start when I got close to using up all the available storage(due to google music caching). I cleared up some space(down to 30% used) and the issue has persisted. No recent updates have fixed the issue. On my GN, it's so bad that using google now, the navigation confirmation times out before it ever shows the dialog. Also, sometimes pages refuse to lo…

I had the same problem, and bought an HTC One. I cleared the phone out to give it to my dad, and now it is very, very noticeably faster. It would take 20-30 seconds to launch Chrome (the screen would turn off before the keyboard appeared), but now it takes around a second.

I think it's because I freed lots of space, as I noticed this after I removed most of the apps (before a factory reset or anything else). It might work for you too.

Re: Google Unveils The New Nexus 7 Android Tablet

#140

Post by pogden »

lnanek2 wrote: post #12

Pretty boring spec increase. If they were an OEM they'd have to try to distinguish themselves, but it isn't life or death for them, so I suppose a boring entry is par for the course. They aren't even keeping pace with Samsung's IR camera gesture support or HTC's all metal body and TV remote capability we're seeing on phones.

OEMs trying to "distinguish themselves" is what gave us crapware on the PC and buggy UI overlays on tablets and phones. 40% of android devices online today are stuck on 2.3 because some OEM was "trying to distinguish themselves" with fancy animations but can't be assed to update any of it today, when they have a new gimmick to sell you. I'd rather take solid hardware at a great price and know I'll get updates for the next two years.
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