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connected phone. volume down + power button. fastboot. wiped shit. flashed ruu + 4.4 or whatever. something like that.
 
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We haven't even seen the latest iteration of Google TV yet -- oops, sorry, that's "Android with Google services for TV" these days -- but a new rumor from The Information's Amir Efrati points to a Nexus-branded set-top box directly from Google in the first half of 2014. Previous rumors have noted TV-connected hardware focused on videoconferencing and gaming, and this new rumor also focuses on the latter, indicating that at this stage it runs Android game apps with a touchscreen controller, but doesn't carry live TV. The suggestion is that an "aggressively priced" gaming box (that also plays streaming internet video and is controlled by phone or tablet) would give Google the advertising foothold it's looking for on your family's TV screen.

The $35 Chromecast dongle has been well received and achieves many of those goals, but we'd like to see what Google could do to separate itself from competitors like Apple TV and Roku or Android-powered hardware like the Ouya -- not to mention the next-gen consoles from Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony. What's not mentioned here are other rumors that Google might look into IPTV services, however after Intel bailed on that route it's not surprising. One more competitor that could throw its hat in the ring is Amazon, which has also been the subject of rumors about a TV box on the way. The only thing we're sure to be purchasing anytime soon however, is an HDMI switch to plug all of this stuff in.
 
Spec is great and so is the pricing. If I hadn't literally just bought the N7 a few months ago I would have got it.
 
Well, the non-GPe is $299. I heard it was possible to just flash the GPe's ROM on to it and it's basically a Nexus 8. The one we were talking about a month ago, possibly being released.

So that shaves off another $50. Might be worth it.
 
I don't think it makes it a Nexus 8. It's more like the HTC One GPE. GPE isn't as great as Nexus as the GPE edition devices are not designed to be Nexus devices. There are some cuts here and there to make a device a GPE device and then it's up to Google + the manufacturer to support it, as opposed to just Google. I'd rather take a Nexus.
 
But there is no Nexus 8. This essentially makes it a ghetto N8. The fact that the GPad has a GPe analog just means that for people that like stock Android, it's possible to get it.

I understand, the GPe might still get the update later, but there is no CM for the GPad. At least I don't think so. So this GPe ROM is probably the next best thing.

There really isn't an 8" tablet on the market, other than the Mini, so that's also why I'm drawn to this a bit more.
 
I prefer the 8" form factor too, that's why I had the Moto Xoom 2 Media Edition before. But Moto never updated the bastard (this was prior to Google buying them). LG have really stepped up to the plate in the last 12 months. The Nexus 4, Nexus 5, G2 and G-Pad are all cool as fuck. The G2 and Nexus 5 right now are infinitely more interesting than anything Samsung, HTC or Sony have released recently.
 
Casey Rain said:
I prefer the 8" form factor too, that's why I had the Moto Xoom 2 Media Edition before. But Moto never updated the bastard (this was prior to Google buying them). LG have really stepped up to the plate in the last 12 months. The Nexus 4, Nexus 5, G2 and G-Pad are all cool as fuck. The G2 and Nexus 5 right now are infinitely more interesting than anything Samsung, HTC or Sony have released recently.
Click to expand...


I agree with the first part but disagree with the last part. I think Samsung and Sony are capable of making overall better phones. The Note 3 and SGS4 were overall better and more complete devices, even though the G2 is very close and the Nexus 5 is basically the cut down version of it with best price/performance ratio but inferior battery life, camera and screen. The Xperia Z1 was also an outstanding device that I'd place on par with the G2 if it wasn't for big bezels. At the moment I believe the Note 3 is the most interesting and overall complete phone on the market though, and it was released recently. There's also the Galaxy J, which essentially carries Note 3 internals, SGS4 sized in a metal case.
 
masta247 said:
I agree with the first part but disagree with the last part. I think Samsung and Sony are capable of making overall better phones. The Note 3 and SGS4 were overall better and more complete devices, even though the G2 is very close and the Nexus 5 is basically the cut down version of it with best price/performance ratio but inferior battery life, camera and screen. The Xperia Z1 was also an outstanding device that I'd place on par with the G2 if it wasn't for big bezels. At the moment I believe the Note 3 is the most interesting and overall complete phone on the market though, and it was released recently. There's also the Galaxy J, which essentially carries Note 3 internals, SGS4 sized in a metal case.
Click to expand...


I like the Note 3, the SGS4 underwhelmed me for it being the flagship, the G2 is a better looking and better performing device IMO and I have spent a lot of time with both. I find Sony's industrial design and UI to be very underwhelming really. Galaxy J isn't available outside Korea right now but the spec looks nice.

IMO:

1. G2 / Nexus 5
2. Note 3 / SGS 4
3. HTC One Max
4. Sony Z1

Compared to the difference between the S and S2, and the S2 and S3, the S4 isn't different enough to the S3 really. I find the design to be uninspired and I dislike their insistence on filling up the phone with useless bloatware and failed clones of Google Apps. Sure, other OEM's do that too but Samsung is taking it to the extreme. ChatOn, Samsung App store, all that shit can fuck right off. Nobody uses it or likes it. They ought to stick to hardware and leave the software to Google.
 
Casey Rain said:
I like the Note 3, the SGS4 underwhelmed me for it being the flagship, the G2 is a better looking and better performing device IMO and I have spent a lot of time with both. I find Sony's industrial design and UI to be very underwhelming really. Galaxy J isn't available outside Korea right now but the spec looks nice.

IMO:

1. G2 / Nexus 5
2. Note 3 / SGS 4
3. HTC One Max
4. Sony Z1

Compared to the difference between the S and S2, and the S2 and S3, the S4 isn't different enough to the S3 really. I find the design to be uninspired and I dislike their insistence on filling up the phone with useless bloatware and failed clones of Google Apps. Sure, other OEM's do that too but Samsung is taking it to the extreme. ChatOn, Samsung App store, all that shit can fuck right off. Nobody uses it or likes it. They ought to stick to hardware and leave the software to Google.
Click to expand...


The Nexus 5 isn't as great as the G2 though hardware-wise. The Note 3 is basically a bigger G2 with even faster chipset, better camera (minus OIS), battery and screen - I think it's the best phone out there right now if the size doesn't bother you. Samsung's software is also superior to LG's software, but I agree about shit nobody needs being installed there. But I find it true even for the Nexus devices these days as well - I don't want half of preinstalled Google apps as well.

I think the S4 was a somewhat meaningful upgrade because it really does look better, the chipset is much better, the battery life is much better and just overall everything else is somewhat upgraded enough to make count imho - even the smaller size while having a bigger display was a huge upgrade alone.
It's not the newest phone at the moment, but it's still holding strong as one of the top choices.

I don't think the HTC One Max is an interesting phone though. There's nothing good about it really except of a case some people seem to like, minus the fingerprint scanner that spoils the design. I think the Z1 was a much better phone - the camera, waterproofness and chipset made it that way in my book.

I'd say right now the best phone depends on your needs. Hardware wise, it's the Note 3 followed by the LG G2 and Xperia Z1, then the Nexus 5/SGS4/HTC crowd - the Nexus 5 has a great chipset but there were other hardware cuts made to it..
However, bang for the buck ratio and stock Android needs get satisfied best by the Nexus 5.
 
I don't get it: despite being released after the G2, why is the N5 not on par with the G2?
 
Coonie said:
I don't get it: despite being released after the G2, why is the N5 not on par with the G2?
Click to expand...


It's a cut down version to save costs, obviously, that's just it. The battery is much smaller, the camera is cheaper (Same sensor as N4, just with OIS), the screen is cheaper etc - as simple as that, the G2 costs over twice as much. The N5 has very snappy chipset and is a great phone for its price, but there were cuts on the costs to be able to offer it at that price. It performs very snappy and is just good enough at most things, but obviously you're not getting top of the line hardware in other fields. Especially if you care about great battery life and camera.
 
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