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Google Nexus 4 Review

anandtech.com

81–90 of 127 posts

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#81
post #5

I have a question here to ask: Why doesn't Google choose Motorola to manufacture its handsets?

Besides the silly wall between the divisions, the Nexus 4 was probably designed before Google bought Moto.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#82
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only way to fairly compare devices is to ignore the single most important aspect? No, I don't think so.

The single most important factor is also the most subjective. I personally dislike Android and wouldn't use this phone if you gave it to me for free, but I can still respect the price for hw. I'm surprised this even needs explaining.

Have you ever used Android 4.2? This phone ships with a new OS version that I don't think is out anywhere else yet. How do you know in advance that you will subjectively not like it? I hate Windows Phone 7, but I wouldn't dare say I hate Windows Phone 8 since I've never seen it IRL. How could I make such a judgement? It's not purely subjective, either. What's the point in having more RAM or a bigger screen if the OS doesn't handle those well? Or, if it handles it exceptionally well, that should be noted as well.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#83
post #34

In the US, what's the best kind of cellular service plans to get if you come in with an unlocked phone? I would love to get out of the 2-year contract thing. But I have this vague understanding that a lot of the prepay, mvno, or non-contract plans don't give access to parts of the big guys networks (like roaming relationships).

Straight Talk and Net 10 Sim are both great. You buy a SIM card, and then every month pay $45-50 for unlimited service. I think they use AT&T's network.

Wow that's pricy!

Over here in the soviet UK you can get a £10-15 pcm contract that gives you unlimited (not tethered) data and a reasonable about of other stuff, so long as you bring your own phone.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#84
post #28

I've already decided I'm buying this phone, but I have to ask: Why should I care about wireless charging? I can't see this feature enriching my life in the slightest. Ok, it looks cool sitting there. But docks look cool too. Is it more convenient? I would argue no (saves maybe two seconds of effort per charge). Is it more portable? Definitely not. Is this only hyped up because of the "coolness" factor?

Here's a quick example. last night I docked my galaxy nexus poorly not pressing it down into the dock all the way. Over night it ran out of power and shut down leaving me with no morning alarm. My nexus one had this issue too especially after the charging pins wore down a bit.

Theoretically wireless charging could've saved me some trouble. Not a huge feature perhaps but nice.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#85
post #36

In the US, what's the best kind of cellular service plans to get if you come in with an unlocked phone? I would love to get out of the 2-year contract thing. But I have this vague understanding that a lot of the prepay, mvno, or non-contract plans don't give access to parts of the big guys networks (like roaming relationships).

I used to use the T-Mobile $30/month Monthly4G plan. You get only 100 minutes but 5gigs of HSPA+ unthrottled data. If you use the GrooveIP app or set up another SIP client, you can make calls without a problem. Latency for those calls depends on the signal strength in your area.

In my experience, GrooveIP call quality is atrocious. I tried it for a while, but at this point I just wait 'till I get to a place where I can SkypeOut or just suck it up and pay the $0.10/minute if I go over (which has only happened twice).

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#86
post #83
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Straight Talk and Net 10 Sim are both great. You buy a SIM card, and then every month pay $45-50 for unlimited service. I think they use AT&T's network.

Wow that's pricy! Over here in the soviet UK you can get a £10-15 pcm contract that gives you unlimited (not tethered) data and a reasonable about of other stuff, so long as you bring your own phone.

Amen. I brought my own smartphone to a Talkmobile (which uses the Vodafone network) £8/month plan [1], which gives me fairly good limits on calling, texting and data.

[1] http://www.talkmobile.co.uk/simple.html

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#87
post #76
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

question: is the lack of LTE really that big of a deal? how much slower is this other thing nexus 4 uses?

I've found that in areas that have LTE it is a big deal. HSDPA 3G can theoretically get you 21Mbps but I've found this to hardly ever be the case. I have friends that regularly post speedtest screenshots at >35Mbps. Also the lag on 3G is atrocious. When I'm streaming iTunes Match it's click, wait, start, pause, wait, and then start again. Apparently the ping times are much lower on LTE and this is a bigger deal (for…

I regularly get between 16Mbps and 21Mbps on HSPA+ in my area and the latency doesn't feel particularly different between my LTE devices and my HSPA+ devices. YM, of course, MV.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#88
post #45
post #28

I've already decided I'm buying this phone, but I have to ask: Why should I care about wireless charging? I can't see this feature enriching my life in the slightest. Ok, it looks cool sitting there. But docks look cool too. Is it more convenient? I would argue no (saves maybe two seconds of effort per charge). Is it more portable? Definitely not. Is this only hyped up because of the "coolness" factor?

My micro-usb cables are dying at about 1 per month. Getting high-quality cables around here is pretty difficult. I'd really love to toss away the cables (maybe keep 1 emergency one in my portable bag).

I recently discovered you can buy those cables for a buck each in dollar stores.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#89
post #87
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've found that in areas that have LTE it is a big deal. HSDPA 3G can theoretically get you 21Mbps but I've found this to hardly ever be the case. I have friends that regularly post speedtest screenshots at >35Mbps. Also the lag on 3G is atrocious. When I'm streaming iTunes Match it's click, wait, start, pause, wait, and then start again. Apparently the ping times are much lower on LTE and this is a bigger deal (for…

I regularly get between 16Mbps and 21Mbps on HSPA+ in my area and the latency doesn't feel particularly different between my LTE devices and my HSPA+ devices. YM, of course, MV.

what area are you in? (if you don't mind me asking)

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#90
post #57
post #20

So I've been looking at reviews of Nexus 4 all week. I have had IPhone for the past few years (3g then 4). I want to switch, but I don't know if Nexus 4 is the one to switch to... I don't quite understand the differences between Android versions of S3 and Note 2, but apparently this has a vanilla android version. What is the best choice? S3? Note 2? Nexus 4? What advantages do each one have over the other?

I will say that I just switched from a iPhone 4 to a S3 and it seriously makes the iPhone feel like a toy.

How so?
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