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Android for all and the new Nexus 5

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Re: Android for all and the new Nexus 5

#61

Post by corresation »

eigenvector wrote: post #9

Here's the Android release notes: http://developer.android.com/about/versions/kitkat.html Highlights: * WebView is now based on Chromium * KSM and zRAM integrated into stock kernel * Public SMS framework * Printing framework * Storage access framework

"Android 4.4 introduces platform support for hardware sensor batching, a new optimization that can dramatically reduce power consumed by ongoing sensor activities."

This sounds remarkably similar to the M7. This functionality of Android 4.4 requires hardware support, which initially is only provided by the Nexus 5. It allows for continuous sensor measurements, only waking the application processor when it delivers a batch of them.

Re: Android for all and the new Nexus 5

#62

Post by bsimpson »

MoosePlissken wrote: post #45
kevincrane wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "Android 4.4, KitKat, which comes on Nexus 5, will also soon be available on Nexus 4, 7, 10, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play edition devices in the coming weeks." Hopefully they get it working for the Galaxy Nexus somehow, mine has been a crapshoot for memory recently with Chrome just randomly restarting at times.

That statement doesn't mention the Galaxy Nexus one way or the other. I imagine it's just a listing of the devices that Google has direct control over that they'll update in the near future. Since updates for the Galaxy Nexus have to go through the carriers, Google can't really say how soon the updates will go through, or if they ever will.

The Galaxy Nexus doesn't go through carriers unless you're on Verizon (or maybe Sprint). It was sold through Google Play (and given away at developer events like I/O) completely unlocked.

Here are the images Google has supplied for this device in the past:

https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#takju

Leaving it out of Google's announcement feels a lot like an implicit deprecation to me.

Re: Android for all and the new Nexus 5

#63

Post by jsumrall »

Symmetry wrote: post #34
wnevets wrote: post #4

Has been less than a year since the 4. What is the major difference from the 4?

LTE connectivity, a bigger battery, and a better camera. On, and a faster processors and more storage and stuff.

The only thing wrong with the nexus 4 is the battery life, and I don't think an 8% increase in battery size is going to help much. Maybe on average 15 minutes extra screen-on time, but then again it's meaningless without knowing something of the new processor in the nexus 5.

Re: Android for all and the new Nexus 5

#64

Post by corresation »

aroch wrote: post #60
corresation wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's fascinating, but how is that relevant? Yes, this device was wanted by a lot of people, many of whom were going to storm the gates. Evidenced by the fact that it sold out. If it makes you feel better trying to niche the sales of Nexus devices, good for you, but I see absolutely no point in your comment.

You make it sound like they blew through a massive stock of them because of demand. More than likely they blew through Google's standard, lackluster supply which is hardly surprising. Google's ability to properly sell physical hardware is abysmal

I didn't make it sound like anything, beyond that -- relative to a Nexus device -- there is enormous pent up demand for this. The hype has been building for weeks, and the anticipated release has been very, very closely watched. Everyone knew this would be a hugely front-loaded purchase.

If Google does what they traditionally do they will be going through batches, with small delays between. With each batch the estimated delivery time will increase -- managers will meet and get agreements by vendors -- and supplies will reappear.

Re: Android for all and the new Nexus 5

#65

Post by Symmetry »

klausa wrote: post #37
eigenvector wrote: post #9

Here's the Android release notes: http://developer.android.com/about/versions/kitkat.html Highlights: * WebView is now based on Chromium * KSM and zRAM integrated into stock kernel * Public SMS framework * Printing framework * Storage access framework

>WebView is now based on Chromium Does that mean that there will no more be stock 'Browser' app? I refuse to use Chrome on Android because of brain-dead, non-disablable 'font-boosting' that makes (among many others) Hacker News absolutely unusable. If that means that the same engine is the only one officially supported on 4.4 forwards, then that's really sad and unfortunate.

Well, there's always Firefox and a whole bunch of other browsers if you don't like Chrome.

Re: Android for all and the new Nexus 5

#67

Post by blinkingled »

bsimpson wrote: post #5

I'm sad that the Galaxy Nexus isn't supported. My phone has increasingly been running out of RAM lately for reasons I don't understand - hearing Google boast about how KitKat has been optimized for memory had me hoping that it would support more than just the latest-greatest.

I am sad as well given KitKat was supposedly designed to work well on devices with 512MB RAM. Given the GNex has 1GB and over the time they've added bit of bloat with 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 - I was very much expecting that KitKat would be the last release for the GNex.

But to be fair it was released with 4.0 and got 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 - 3 major releases and more minor ones. So yeah I think I'll give them a pass and hope CM team will have 4.4 for the GNex sometime down the line.

Also no news on the integration of French startup they bought - forgot the name, but they had a native code converter for Android apps which helps further with low RAM low power devices - hoping that they release it to the Play Store (DroidBooster?).

Re: Android for all and the new Nexus 5

#68

Post by reustle »

danellis wrote: post #48
bsimpson wrote: post #5

I'm sad that the Galaxy Nexus isn't supported. My phone has increasingly been running out of RAM lately for reasons I don't understand - hearing Google boast about how KitKat has been optimized for memory had me hoping that it would support more than just the latest-greatest.

What?? The whole point of getting a Nexus device is that, unlike a carrier phone, it's not supposed to get left behind by updates!

The Galaxy Nexus came out at the end of 2011. It can only handle the latest OS for so long...

Re: Android for all and the new Nexus 5

#69

Post by drhayes9 »

ciferkey wrote: post #23

For all, unless you are on Verizon.

The phone supports CDMA..? I'm on Verizon and really want this phone (eventually). Are you seeing that it doesn't work with Verizon somewhere specifically?

Edit: More comments here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6648976 and here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6648664 but not seeing links, feels like hearsay.

Re: Android for all and the new Nexus 5

#70

Post by dasil003 »

reustle wrote: post #68
danellis wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What?? The whole point of getting a Nexus device is that, unlike a carrier phone, it's not supposed to get left behind by updates!

The Galaxy Nexus came out at the end of 2011. It can only handle the latest OS for so long...

For less than 2 years? That's worse than Apple, and not just a little.
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