Technology Android

[masta247]

Sofi likes Aviate, I personally don't.. It basically categorizes and divides everything thinking it knows better than me, duh, But it's very unique and simple, so it might appeal to a certain group of users.

As far as the Nexus 5, it just looks like a good phone. Sure, the battery doesn't look great, the camera samples just prove that it's another Nexus with an average camera - they put Nexus 4's CMOS into a G2 sensor (OIS) so you're basically getting N4-esque picture quality with very basic optical image stabilization and some enhancements here and there.
Still better than HTC One's camera though and personally if I had the HTC One, I was in the US and my primary need wasn't design I'd sell the HTC One, buy the Nexus 5, have the better phone and extra leftover money.

 

[ARon]

Running a Nexus 5 port. It's nice and smooth. I'll detail speed once 4.4 is officially released for the n4, with proper binaries and all. The startup isn't much different but it seems a bit simplified and gives you more info once you get to the actual homescreen. I didn't know now is just a swipe to the left from the homescreen now, kind of cool, even though I don' use it at all

 

[Pittsey]

Fragmentation doesn't matter too much. That's what custom ROMs are for.

Saying that though. Why isn't the Galaxy Nexus supported any longer? If 4.4 runs on inferior phones, what stops it running on a GNex, or even a Nexus S? I haven't read anything on it, obviously.

I didn't order the Nexus 5, either. A few people I know did. But... The Nexus 4 is still running sweet for me. I'll see what he next year brings.

 

[masta247]

Running a Nexus 5 port. It's nice and smooth. I'll detail speed once 4.4 is officially released for the n4, with proper binaries and all. The startup isn't much different but it seems a bit simplified and gives you more info once you get to the actual homescreen. I didn't know now is just a swipe to the left from the homescreen now, kind of cool, even though I don' use it at all

I don't like the idea with swiping left to launch Now. It's useless almost everywhere outside of the US, and even if it was more useful I'd still wouldn't want it to get in my way that much. I prefer having another homescreen on left swipe so hopefully there's a setting for disabling Now.

Saying that though. Why isn't the Galaxy Nexus supported any longer? If 4.4 runs on inferior phones, what stops it running on a GNex, or even a Nexus S? I haven't read anything on it, obviously.

Google said they're only going to support Nexus devices for exactly 18 months, so updating Galaxy Nexus would be violating that policy. I think that sucks, as the Nexus program was pretty much about longer support. At this point some OEMs are about as good with their updates - keeping their flagships updated for about 18 months as well, just lagging a little but still the SGS4 and HTC One (with OEM firmware) are going to get 4.4 in 3-4 months (as opposed to a few weeks for last year's Nexus devices).

Still, the AOSP program is the best thing out there. I'd obviously stick to it if I were using an older phone.

 

[dilla]

So it's just better to buy the phone you want and just put custom ROMs on it. Wait a month, or so, for CM to bring a port over and enjoy the Nexus experience.

I can't remember the Nexus devices really blowing anyone away, hardware-wise. Maybe the N4? Otherwise the rest just seemed to be two steps forward and one back on an already existed phone. Like the GalNex versus the S2.

I haven't found a comprehensive list of features of Kit Kat, but the one that really stuck out to me was the ability of the phone to search up an unknown number calling you on Google and telling you who it is, despite not having them as a contact. Like a business or something. A more advanced caller ID, I guess.

 

[Pittsey]

Trying to resist the Nexus 5.


edit - As for the Gnex not running 4.4. Apparently it is an unsupported chipset issue.

 

[masta247]

edit - As for the Gnex not running 4.4. Apparently it is an unsupported chipset issue.

Dunno, in Google's FAQ it says it's over 18 months old and their policy is to keep devices updated for as long as 18 months only.

Although unofficially they did mention that another reason is TI's chipset, since TI no longer makes chipsets and don't support them and aren't providing drivers anymore.

 

[dilla]

Well, no one here really has to worry about not getting 4.4. We all have Nexus devices or are rooted and will just install a custom ROM.

 

[S O F I]

How is Aviate? I think it's cool idea but I don't know if I'd like it

I like it. I'm not a fan of empty spaces. I don't like widgets, for example. So, all my apps would be on one screen and other screens would be completely empty. With Aviate, it removes empty space and categorizes everything by morning/night, work, and going places. Honestly, it doesn't make my phone use any more efficient and faster. But I just like the launcher more, basically.

Once 4.4 is officially released, I'll probably go back to stock for a while just because of the novelty factor.

 

[S O F I]

Still better than HTC One's camera though and personally if I had the HTC One, I was in the US and my primary need wasn't design I'd sell the HTC One, buy the Nexus 5, have the better phone and extra leftover money.

That wouldn't work in my situation. I am essentially leasing the phone - like buying a car on credit. Except there's no interest. If I sold the phone, I'd make no money on it because I'd still have to fully pay it off.

The only option would be for me to return the HTC One (I have spent about $200 in total payments so far), and buy the N5. That would put me in the same situation, money wise, with a phone that's slightly better spec-wise but inferior in design quality.

 

[ARon]

Send me an invite, please

 

[dilla]

I've tried looking into it, but didn't get a straight answer...

Say I were to buy the Galaxy note 10.1 2014 edition, are there stock (preferably CM) ROMs for it? I guess I would lose the S Pen functionality, so maybe I won't do that, but what about other tablets, maybe one that doesn't have the S Pen?

I mean, I'm still like a woman making a choice on a tablet, and I'm hearing mixed things about the 7's screen size. I want to be able to read magazines as well as textbooks on it but some people say that the screen size does not allow for you to be able to read the book without scrolling and pinching and zooming all the time. Basically the screen size. And no matter how many times I go to the store and hold the N7 and see that the screen is adequate, I still feel like a slightly bigger screen would be good. But no one makes an 8" tablet, other than the Mini. But I want Android; iOS is too simple and lacks function.

Unlike SOFI, I love widgets. I don't use too many, but the ones I do are great for me. WeatherBug and TV Show Favs are the two main ones.

SOFI, if you have an invite to spare, I'd like to try that launcher as well. I need to explore some more of these third party options because I too have a million free screens and would rather have something that consolidates what I use.

 

[masta247]

The Notes are best left Touchwized - it adds shitloads of cool functionality and no other ROM supports Wacom's digitizer from what I know. The S Pen totally enhances how you work with those tablets. It's awesome for studying and notes too.
The new Note 10.1 is pretty much the ultimate 10 inch Android tablet at this point (along the new Asus Transformer, but it trades the S-Pen for a very good keyboard dock). The best 7 incher is the Nexus 7. I read stuff on it without problems, and the 2013 edition has even higher resolution, although some big magazines with small fonts could need some zooming I guess.

Windows tablets are taking off with the Asus T100. It's a very solid mid-range Windows tablet for 349$ that can also work like a very light laptop, although the quality isn't the same as with Android tablets, but you can run any X86 program on it and the Intel Bay trail is a very efficient platform.

 

[dilla]

Yeah, I am actually very impressed with the specs of the Windows tablets. But they have to be that good in order to run desktop OS programs. Still, very nice to see something that is essentially a notebook with a touchscreen and without a keyboard for classic tablet portability. The thing that confuses me is are we going to see a shit away from apps and back to proper programs now that hardware for tablets has improved so much? Or are we just going to go back and forth?

Because on one hand, desktop OSs are starting to implement more apps accompanied by app stores. See Windows or the Mac App Store. Then we have the phones and tablets that have always used apps and see the mobile market start to switch from apps to programs. Like the previous example of the Windows tablets, like the Surface Pro 2 for example. It's like the two markets are trying to switch places.

Or are we trying to go for a more hybrid experience? For example, TweetDeck for Mac is much easier for me to use than the Twitter website in my browser. Maybe not "Easy" as much as it is more convenient and preferable. It's a separate program in my dock. I wouldn't mind Facebook being the same way too.

 

[Pittsey]

I'm thinking about a Note 3.

But....

My old S3 just got Sudden Death. Samsung are fuckers. If they don't replace what is an inherent fault, then I will no longer buy a Samsung product, of which I have quite a few. Bottom line - Buy South Korean cheap shit, get South Korean cheap shit. Although... My TV is still working.

 

[Shadows]

^they sent me a new one and i have to wait "a few weeks" to see if im going to be charged for a new one. if thats the case, i'm gonna tell them nevermind and that i wont buy another samsung product again.

 

[dilla]

They probably said that so that they could check to make sure there was no water damage or that you didn't root your phone, which voids your warranty. If there's no sign that you personally fucked around with it, they're probably not going to charge you.

 

[masta247]

Exactly. I'm surprised you guys had so many problems with Samsung phones. I think they're pretty much the best for hardware quality. Their service is pretty good too, although personally I never had to use it and I had 3 Samsung phones without issues. That said I had issues with Sony software on my last Xperia and chipset overheating there caused restarts and burned the LCD. The S4 is the most reliable smartphone I ever had. I always had some sort of issues with my past phones. The S4 is complete and trouble-free. Just takes somewhat blurry pics in low light due to lack of OIS and long shutter speeds, my only gripe.

The Note 3 is a great device. The best Android alongside the G2.

 

[masta247]

Yeah, I am actually very impressed with the specs of the Windows tablets. But they have to be that good in order to run desktop OS programs. Still, very nice to see something that is essentially a notebook with a touchscreen and without a keyboard for classic tablet portability. The thing that confuses me is are we going to see a shit away from apps and back to proper programs now that hardware for tablets has improved so much? Or are we just going to go back and forth?

Because on one hand, desktop OSs are starting to implement more apps accompanied by app stores. See Windows or the Mac App Store. Then we have the phones and tablets that have always used apps and see the mobile market start to switch from apps to programs. Like the previous example of the Windows tablets, like the Surface Pro 2 for example. It's like the two markets are trying to switch places.

Or are we trying to go for a more hybrid experience? For example, TweetDeck for Mac is much easier for me to use than the Twitter website in my browser. Maybe not "Easy" as much as it is more convenient and preferable. It's a separate program in my dock. I wouldn't mind Facebook being the same way too.

I have no clue where Microsoft is going now. Windows 8 and 8.1 are pretty much schizophrenic - it has no clue what it wants to be and switches between things all the time. Nobody is using or making Windows apps, but now in 8.1 Desktop is basically a Metro app, lmao. They're not helping themselves. That said, the OEMs and Intel are doing amazing things with what they're given. Haswells and Bay trails are awesome, OEMs are coming with super cheap Windows tablets to save the situation and it's only Microsoft fucking things up, they seem to have no clue what they want with Windows now. The OS feels like a mess. It needs complete redesign at this point.

My point of view is this - they should make a single OS for x86 chips, switch entirely to Intel for WP and regular Windows so they could both run exactly the same apps, while a regular Windows version could also run full programs. Make regular Windows with a single UI that can be operated on a desktop PC as well as support gestures and touch for tablets easily. That'd mean ditching tiles and coming up with redesigned desktop workspace again with program and app icons in a drawer which would be like a redesigned start menu.

 

[Pittsey]

Exactly. I'm surprised you guys had so many problems with Samsung phones. I think they're pretty much the best for hardware quality. Their service is pretty good too, although personally I never had to use it and I had 3 Samsung phones without issues. That said I had issues with Sony software on my last Xperia and chipset overheating there caused restarts and burned the LCD. The S4 is the most reliable smartphone I ever had. I always had some sort of issues with my past phones. The S4 is complete and trouble-free. Just takes somewhat blurry pics in low light due to lack of OIS and long shutter speeds, my only gripe.

The Note 3 is a great device. The best Android alongside the G2.

There's a known issue with the S3. Samsung fucked up. 1000s of them have died. Mine twice.

We had a similar issue with Samsung screens at work. Cost us £1000,000s. So we switched to NEC and Samsung lost them a few 100k a year customer.

Although Samsung do pay us a few million in sponsorship to display their TVs all around the place.