Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#91

Post by marquis » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:45 PM UTC

bryanlarsen wrote: post #80

eli wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agree. I bought a Galaxy S3 recently and my only major regret is that the thing is freakin' huge. I don't understand at all why this is desirable. Even in the rare instance where I want to watch a video on my phone, the slightly large screen doesn't really noticeably improve the experience.

The killer use case for large screens: make sure you're using Google Chrome as your browser. Then select "request desktop site".

How about someone invents a flip-out screen already? Then I can have a slim touch-phone and 1080p screen for those rare times I want to use a browser when I'm away from my laptop.

We could use robotic pixels, to flip around when you need them on the edges (it would also mean you could embed a camera in the middle of a screen for better eye-communication)

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#92

Post by tjdetwiler » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:49 PM UTC

rhizome wrote: post #65

tjdetwiler wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it's part of Google's master plan to get people off 2 year contracts on to prepaid accounts.

Is that their master plan? My contract is up right now, so a signal like that could affect my near-term decisions...

Anything that takes control away from carriers would help Google.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#93

Post by mtgx » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:49 PM UTC

joejohnson wrote: post #23

If it's only $300 unlocked, it should cost less than $200 with a two-year contract. The iPhone 5 is $699 (16GB) and is still $200 with a two-year contract. Can LG/Google not get this same subsidy for their phones?

They probably don't want to anyway. The point of making it this cheap is because they want to fully bypass the carriers.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#94

Post by eli » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:49 PM UTC

bryanlarsen wrote: post #80

eli wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agree. I bought a Galaxy S3 recently and my only major regret is that the thing is freakin' huge. I don't understand at all why this is desirable. Even in the rare instance where I want to watch a video on my phone, the slightly large screen doesn't really noticeably improve the experience.

The killer use case for large screens: make sure you're using Google Chrome as your browser. Then select "request desktop site".

Sure, that's nice enough but I doubt it's a make or break for many people. Having a phone that fits comfortably in my pocket is a much bigger deal.

Anyway, I think it would be a lot more interesting to use that bigger form factor to give a phone amazing battery life or to make it super rugged.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#95

Post by baddox » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:51 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 ?

I always find it strange when reviews do spend time talking about making phone calls. I got a call on my iPhone 5 yesterday, and was surprised at the UI during incoming calls, then I realized it was literally the first call I had received since I got the phone on release day. That's 6 weeks. And it was a spam call from my university asking for donations.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#96

Post by baddox » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:52 PM UTC

vladikoff wrote: post #85

hnriot wrote: post #81

"Nearly flawless" - more like DOA considering it doesn't work with LTE, or have any of the other usual non-apple advantages (expandable storage and swappable batteries) LTE is the one big innovation that is giving smartphones a whole new arena for new apps, high speed data is the cornerstone of mobile.

DOA? LTE is way overpriced and not available in most areas. I don't see how LTE is even a 'big' innovation for apps. YouTube HD works perfectly on HSPA+, I'm not sure what else you need...

What do you mean by "LTE is way overpriced"? Do any carriers charge more for the faster network, or are you just referring to the fact that you can utilize your data quota much faster?

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#97

Post by phishphood » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:52 PM UTC

thoughtsimple wrote: post #74

From the article, "Android has a new champion. The Nexus 4 ... is the best overall Android handset currently available, and it’s one of the best phones to be released this year." And, "It’s as close to perfect as I’ve seen any Android smartphone get. But the Nexus 4 falls just short of perfection due to one major omission: It’s not compatible with any LTE networks. The Nexus 4 will run on just about any other cellula…

In my case lack of LTE is not a big concern, I am more concerned with lack of SD slot for example, or battery not being user serviceable.

LTE or not LTE, everywhere I need to I have a Wi-Fi readily available and Nexus 4 supports phone function over the wi-fi as well, so lack of it is not really important

I am also looking at possibly getting Galaxy S3, it is priced at $50 on black friday but I will have to sign another 2 year contract with Sprint and endure another bout of Sprint useless bloatware being installed by night, endless attempts to charge me for something very basic like voice mail transcribtion, etc.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#98

Post by sandGorgon » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:53 PM UTC

a few weeks back i bought an used One X on XDA. I then crossed my fingers and contributed to a bounty for rooting the At&t model (the only HTC model that couldn't be unlocked, even by HTC)

I'm glad I did. About a fortnight back, someone cracked the One X wide open, and and I have stock Jellybean. And I find out today that the One X holds its own against the latest and greatest nexus. It's camera and display is still unbeaten.

Huzzah to the hacker who made it happen.

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#99

Post by baddox » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:54 PM UTC

thoughtsimple wrote: post #74

From the article, "Android has a new champion. The Nexus 4 ... is the best overall Android handset currently available, and it’s one of the best phones to be released this year." And, "It’s as close to perfect as I’ve seen any Android smartphone get. But the Nexus 4 falls just short of perfection due to one major omission: It’s not compatible with any LTE networks. The Nexus 4 will run on just about any other cellula…

> It doesn't work on Verizon or Sprint.

Do you have a source for this?

Re: Google Nexus 4: Nearly flawless

#100

Post by jedc » Fri, Nov 02, 2012, 5:56 PM UTC

$299 for an unlocked smartphone on NO contract, on lead device hardware, with the newest Android OS (and which will receive updates as soon as they're ready), and solid reviews?

Yikes!!