Android: Phone News and Discussion Thread
Needs more Lemon Pledge
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 52,768
Likes: 2,000
From: Phoenix, AZ
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 826
Likes: 13
From: Philadelphia
So I called around this morning and found one store that had the Nexus 4 in stock. I went in around lunch time and picked one up for 199.
I'm coming from a 2 1/2 year old DroidX so this is a huge jump and I really like it. My first nexus device and I'm definitely excited.
Not sure whatelse to say about the phone since I'm a noob but the phone definitely looks and feels solid. Heavier than a S3 but feels more expensive at the same time.
The only downside to all this was the sales rep messing up my contract somehow and charging me full price for the phone (199down 300 financed for later WTF?) when I added a line to my already existing family plan thereby extending the contract by 2 more years. I had to get back to work so I left in a hurry without looking at the receipt, so when I looked at the receipt later, I was a bit annoyed to say the least. I will have to go into the store tomorrow again to get this settled.
I'm coming from a 2 1/2 year old DroidX so this is a huge jump and I really like it. My first nexus device and I'm definitely excited.
Not sure whatelse to say about the phone since I'm a noob but the phone definitely looks and feels solid. Heavier than a S3 but feels more expensive at the same time.
The only downside to all this was the sales rep messing up my contract somehow and charging me full price for the phone (199down 300 financed for later WTF?) when I added a line to my already existing family plan thereby extending the contract by 2 more years. I had to get back to work so I left in a hurry without looking at the receipt, so when I looked at the receipt later, I was a bit annoyed to say the least. I will have to go into the store tomorrow again to get this settled.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
Would love to hear about your battery experience and maybe the camera. I rarely use mine but I guess its good to know its okay. Lol. Anandtech's review makes it seem like the camera issues could be corrected with software tweaks. Probably a 3rd party camera app would do better than the stock camera.
One last thing, how is the GPS lock? From what I understand, it has access to GPS and GLONASS so that should help with the locks but I haven't seen any first hand account of it. Thanks.
One last thing, how is the GPS lock? From what I understand, it has access to GPS and GLONASS so that should help with the locks but I haven't seen any first hand account of it. Thanks.
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,012
Likes: 439
From: SoCal
wanna know something interesting about my NS. Ever since ICS my gps would literally lock on within 10 seconds, lots of times even sooner. Before that with gingerbread it would sometimes take like 30 seconds to a whole minute to find my location. It was bad.
GPS on the NS is great now. I shed a tear when I heard we weren't getting the official 4.2 update. I guess its SIII time.
youre moving away from nexus!
FoxFi. AT&T blocked it from the market but you can side load it. Shouldn't need root access:
http://foxfi.com/bin/
AT&T blocks certain apps. They even blocked GTalk video chats via 3G. Luckily that stuff can be fixed via root.
http://foxfi.com/bin/
AT&T blocks certain apps. They even blocked GTalk video chats via 3G. Luckily that stuff can be fixed via root.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
FoxFi is good for WiFi tethering without root. If you're okay with USB tethering, there are plenty other alternatives that don't require root. Unfortunately, WiFi tethering requires root if your carrier blocked it and FoxFi seems to be the only method to get it without root unless its been patched in a recent update.
If you want to try USB tethering, I recommend ClockworkMod Tether as its specifically designed to bypass the checks that carrier use to see if you're tethering:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...GEudGV0aGVyIl0.
Its not free but its a one time payment. Also, if you're serious about tethering without the data plan, learn how to change your browser's user agent as that's currently the method that T-Mobile is using to see if you're tethering. Otherwise, they'll cut it off and require you to pay for the plan.
If you want to try USB tethering, I recommend ClockworkMod Tether as its specifically designed to bypass the checks that carrier use to see if you're tethering:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...GEudGV0aGVyIl0.
Its not free but its a one time payment. Also, if you're serious about tethering without the data plan, learn how to change your browser's user agent as that's currently the method that T-Mobile is using to see if you're tethering. Otherwise, they'll cut it off and require you to pay for the plan.
Last edited by CGFebTSX04; Nov 14, 2012 at 10:51 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
Okay, so I wasn't going crazy thinking that the font rendering in Android 4.2 has improved:
http://www.androidcentral.com/yes-te...ent-android-42
Also, the hotseat icons for the Nexus 7 did shrink and finally, Group Messaging is confirmed to work on stock so no need for Whatsapp, Viber, GroupMe and what ever other things out there. Not sure on the group picture messaging though. Wonder why Google didn't document these things in their changelogs.
Stronger text and improved kerning in the new version of Jelly Bean
Do things look a bit ... different ... since upgrading your Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 7 to Android 4.2? Turns out there's one change in the new version of Android that hasn't been documented at all until now. In the new version of Jelly Bean, Google's made some very subtle, but sweeping tweaks to the way text is rendered throughout the OS.
If you look closely at our animated GIF above, you'll see that text in 4.2 is slightly bolder with smoother edges and improved kerning (letter spacing). This applies throughout the UI, in emails, web pages and other applications.
We've spotted Google's new text rendering stuff on the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7, so it looks like it's a system-wide change, rather than a graphics tweak tied to any particular hardware. On the whole, this makes for slightly clearer on-screen text that's a little more pleasing to the eye. (And the improved kerning is sure to keep design geeks happy, too.)
We've got another GIF showing the differences in text rendering in 4.2 after the break.
Are there any other little tweaks you've noticed in 4.2? Let us know in the comments.
Do things look a bit ... different ... since upgrading your Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 7 to Android 4.2? Turns out there's one change in the new version of Android that hasn't been documented at all until now. In the new version of Jelly Bean, Google's made some very subtle, but sweeping tweaks to the way text is rendered throughout the OS.
If you look closely at our animated GIF above, you'll see that text in 4.2 is slightly bolder with smoother edges and improved kerning (letter spacing). This applies throughout the UI, in emails, web pages and other applications.
We've spotted Google's new text rendering stuff on the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7, so it looks like it's a system-wide change, rather than a graphics tweak tied to any particular hardware. On the whole, this makes for slightly clearer on-screen text that's a little more pleasing to the eye. (And the improved kerning is sure to keep design geeks happy, too.)
We've got another GIF showing the differences in text rendering in 4.2 after the break.
Are there any other little tweaks you've noticed in 4.2? Let us know in the comments.
Also, the hotseat icons for the Nexus 7 did shrink and finally, Group Messaging is confirmed to work on stock so no need for Whatsapp, Viber, GroupMe and what ever other things out there. Not sure on the group picture messaging though. Wonder why Google didn't document these things in their changelogs.
Last edited by CGFebTSX04; Nov 15, 2012 at 12:31 AM.
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,012
Likes: 439
From: SoCal
The battery is my biggest complaint. While it is "replaceable", who knows how large of a battery can be stuffed into it due to space constraints, but most importantly, the antenna on the back cover.
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,012
Likes: 439
From: SoCal
ohh i see yea you have an extended battery. I dont so anything that gives me more than an hour to an hour and a half of on screen time i'll be happy haha. I'm hoping i get a full day out of this for me though
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
So apparently you can view other people's Photospheres simply by downloading them from their G+ page or sharing them onto another 4.2 device. I got curious to see what would happen if I downloaded someone else's Photosphere on G+ onto my Nexus 7 (which doesn't support Photosphere in stock camera btw) and I viewed the sphere in the gallery and next thing you know I had full 360 access to someone else's Photosphere. Looks even better on the tablets because of the viewing space. So as long as you have 4.2 you can share and access other people's Photosphere and view them in the stock gallery. 
We could probably post the raw jpgs of the Photospheres here and you could download it on a 4.2 device and view it in the gallery.
We could probably post the raw jpgs of the Photospheres here and you could download it on a 4.2 device and view it in the gallery.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
Someone took this pretty good Photosphere at Coney Island with a Galaxy Nexus:
https://plus.google.com/105928542838...ts/Ztfu5HXttBS
If you have a device on 4.2, download the image and view it in the gallery.
https://plus.google.com/105928542838...ts/Ztfu5HXttBS
If you have a device on 4.2, download the image and view it in the gallery.
I Shoot with a Camera
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 23,077
Likes: 3,669
From: Vancouver BC
sorry for the dumb question, but... my Galaxy Nexus was rooted and had CM9... I had it done back in June... And I wasn't getting updates because of it... So, I had another friend wipe it, put it back to stock a couple weeks ago, and right away, that night, I got all the updates, one after another up to 4.1.2 I have the yakju version. I'm just wondering... I WILL get the 4.2 update eventually, right?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
sorry for the dumb question, but... my Galaxy Nexus was rooted and had CM9... I had it done back in June... And I wasn't getting updates because of it... So, I had another friend wipe it, put it back to stock a couple weeks ago, and right away, that night, I got all the updates, one after another up to 4.1.2 I have the yakju version. I'm just wondering... I WILL get the 4.2 update eventually, right?
I Shoot with a Camera
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 23,077
Likes: 3,669
From: Vancouver BC
Yes it will get it eventually but no date has been set yet and JBQ doesnt know when it'll be approved yet. Also note that the Takju version is the one that comes from there Play Store and will always get the updates first because Google is the one doing support for it. Samsung is the one doing support for Yakju even though they're technically the same device. There is no real difference between Takju and Yakju except Takju comes with Google Wallet preinstalled and gets the updates first so there's no reason not to go to Takju. So yeah you can wait or you can flash the 4.2 Takju factory images straight from Google's site and not have to wait for this update and future updates. Then again some apps are in need of updating still so if you don't need the new features then just wait it out.
but how does it work with the N7... I didn't buy it from the Play Store, but from Staples, and got the OTA yesterday
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
Because for the N7 there's only one build for it which is Nakasi. For some reason the Galaxy Nexus was released as Takju and Yakju and I guess Samsung takes care of the Yakju builds for whatever reason.
Last edited by CGFebTSX04; Nov 15, 2012 at 01:58 PM.
Goodbye.
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,308
Likes: 584
From: BroCal
People are getting emails from Google that their Nexus 4 orders are on backorder and thus won't be shipped out for 3 weeks at earliest......yeesh.
I guess some people are caving in and just paying the extra money for an unlocked one from T-Mobile now. Crazy.
I guess some people are caving in and just paying the extra money for an unlocked one from T-Mobile now. Crazy.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
Heads up, MX Player just got updated for 4.2 support. Now I can go back to watching my shows. You guys do know there are apps that let you stream TV Shows and Movies out there right? And none of these apps require root. I probably can't talk about them here though. 
I Shoot with a Camera
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 23,077
Likes: 3,669
From: Vancouver BC
Can you pm me those apps?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
^Sent. You can also user flash to stream stuff. Its a bit clunky compared to the dedicated apps but with the right browser it works great. I stream basketball games on my 7 or Nexus all the time this way.
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,012
Likes: 439
From: SoCal
Mike i want a pm too please!!!!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 295
From: LA, CA
Interesting. Google Now just popped a card up showing that there's traffic on the route I normally take to go home. It suggested an alternative route as well to bypass it. Its kinda scary it knows my schedul but so useful. I guess it knows I normally go home around this time and told me to expect delays.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 12,521
Likes: 1,824
From: MAGA country
Interesting. Google Now just popped a card up showing that there's traffic on the route I normally take to go home. It suggested an alternative route as well to bypass it. Its kinda scary it knows my schedul but so useful. I guess it knows I normally go home around this time and told me to expect delays.
