Technology Android

[dilla]

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.

So does "Nexus" now mean cheap, shitty quality just to meet a certain price? And getting updates first is just a perk?

I thought it used to mean it had all the latest and greatest hardware and software for a low price sold directly by Google.

 

[masta247]

So does "Nexus" now mean cheap, shitty quality just to meet a certain price? And getting updates first is just a perk?

I thought it used to mean it had all the latest and greatest hardware and software for a low price sold directly by Google.

It means cuts this generation. It's not shitty quality. The quality is pretty good. There are just some cuts here and there with the Nexus 5. Obviously the G2 its based on features all around slightly superior hardware inside, except of the chipset.
Reading any review you'll see the camera, audio, battery, even screen aren't flagship grade. The build quality is pretty good, but still they had to make a new revision this week because of quality complaints. The Nexus 5 is a great device for its price, but it's not up there with 600$ flagships overall, even if it's almost there and costs half of that, and comes with almost instant software upgrades.

 

[Casey]

The G2 VS N5 - it's a tradeoff between marginally better hardware and having up to date software.

The G2 has slightly better hardware yeah, but it's still rocking Andoid 4.2. No thanks. I've been using 4.3 since the first week of August, and 4.4 since the first week of November. I don't like to be one version behind. Let alone two! That's why I like the direction Google is going with the GPE devices.

I don't give much of a shit about hardware, really. For me, hardware is a means to an end - software. Break it down, shit is all the same inside anyway. Processor and RAM and GPU and display, who cares, as long as it runs the latest software well.

It's part of why I don't like Apple, or any companies with software that is exclusive to their own hardware. That shit is lame and elitist. I was saying a few days ago, Nintendo are fucked for the same reason. Nobody is gonna a buy a Wii U with it's tablet controller gimmick when people already have capable tablets and smartphones that play games. I'd like to play that new Zelda on the 3DS, but I don't have interest in buying or owning a 3DS. Release it for Android and I'll throw some money at Nintendo for it. And I really enjoy the fact that you can build Hackintoshes for a fraction of the price of Apple hardware that outperform their machines. Fuck keeping software exclusive to specific hardware, that shit is a lame model for business.

 

[masta247]

I don't give much of a shit about hardware, really. For me, hardware is a means to an end - software. Break it down, shit is all the same inside anyway. Processor and RAM and GPU and display, who cares, as long as it runs the latest software well.

I totally get what you're saying. BUT, to me nothing meaningful (to me) changed in Android since 4.1. Processor and RAM might not be as important as long as it works well, but I do care about having the best display more than the newest software version, for instance.
For some people getting the 40 hours of battery endurance (gsmarena) on Nexus 5 might not even be a trade off compared to 65 hours on the G2 (gsmarena).Same with cheaper audio chip or inferior camera - some people use those things so rarely they don't care. Personally I do care about camera a lot, much more than having the newest Android as well, especially since there's not much changing with the last 3 big updates that matters to me.

The point is it's all down to preferences. The Nexus 5 is a great phone, and for many people it will be the best phone because of software updates, price and being amongst the fastest devices on the market.
Hardware-wise it's not the best though, even though it's awesome value for money and it's almost there with other flagships that cost twice as much. The point is, if someone's focused on hardware and doesn't care about being a version or two behind, but wants the best camera, battery life, display, audio quality etc. there are better devices that offer a more complete package and are better at each of those at the same time.. but they're not getting quick software updates straight from Google and cost much more.

 

[Casey]

There is a world of difference since 4.1.

- Gesture typing by default (saves having to install Swype or Swiftkey)
- Photo Sphere
- Action Buttons in Notifications
- Enhanced QuickSettings
- Lock Screen widgets
- Far improved camera control
- Multiple user profiles on tablets
- Bluetooth Low Energy
- Virtual surround sound
- Dial pad autocomplete
- Far improved performance, much more speed and fluidity
- Improved browser / HTML5 support
- HDR mode in camera
- Miracast and HDMI mirroring
- System wide emoji's
- Much more accurate voice typing - every time I use it it works flawlessly these days, no errors at all
- WebM / VP8 support
- OpenGL 3.0
- Touchless voice controls
- Full screen album art on lock screen
- Immersive full screen UI's in reading/media mode
- Google Caller ID
- Hangouts / SMS / Google Voice integration
- Cloudprinting
- Integrated QuickOffice
- Chromecast support
- native IR support
- Low-power Audio playback
- Integrated NFC payments
- Far improved UI with the Google Experience Launcher with one-swipe Google Now access.

And that's not even a comprehensive list. Now, none of these on their own may seem like a massive deal, but together, yeah, it's night and day. Android 4.3 on my Nexus 4 felt "old" to me within a few days of using 4.4 on the Nexus 5.

 

[masta247]

^ Frankly to me none of those is a big deal and those that are they were there on OEM software before Google brought them and are only new to stock Android.
I get it where you're coming from, but I'm at that point where to me there's no visible difference since the 4.1 - even on my Nexus 7, I'm not feeling any positive change since the 4.1. There's nothing new that I even use. I get it that for people running stock Android on their phones they might feel a difference, and I get it that for some people those things are more important than for me personally.

 

[dilla]

I too haven't noticed a big change between my S3 on ICS when it shipped and KitKat now.

The list of features Casey listed are not big to me, but I understand people do more things with their phones than I do, so those features may be huge for them. The difference may be more obvious than it is to me.

I guess I fall into the camp that feels that better hardware is important to me. I don't care too much about the internals, because my S3 is still not that sluggish. RAM and CPU and all can stay in tact. But I would like a crisp, clear, efficient screen. And I know that takes a more powerful GPU. And I also do look for a top-notch camera from my phone, so that would be huge for me too.

So my next phone will reflect those changes, hopefully. I don't think I will upgrade unless I can get an industry-leading camera (for phones) and the best display on the market. I think the HTC One holds that honors, currently. And had I known better, I probably would have gotten gotten that over the S3. That's not to say I don't like my S3. I just don't know if CM supports the One, at least well as it supports the S3 and other popular phones.

Because CM is fine for me. I can handle waiting three weeks after Kit Kat is released to enjoy it on my S3. I can't handle shit I can't modify/upgrade, like hardware.

 

[masta247]

I think the HTC One holds that honors, currently.

Which honor? I'm very surprised you say that. The HTC One has probably the worst camera on the market, and definitely the worst out of all flagships released this year or even last year, or even 2 years ago (excluding other HTC phones and maybe Galaxy Nexus). The screen is very good, but the S4 and Note3 AMOLEDs are superior and if you prefer to keep it old-school with LCDs, the LG G2's LCD is the best at the moment. Those phones also have good cameras.

To me also camera matters the most, second would be battery life and third would be the display. Those are 3 things I care the most in a phone. That's why as much as I think the Nexus 5 is a great deal, it wouldn't be a good phone for me. The software updates is further down the list after performance and design (mostly bezel size, slimness and low weight), I suppose. So yeah, everyone has different needs.

 

[dilla]

Oh right, now that I think about it, the One did have a shitty camera. They even had a recall on some of them.

The screen was supposed to be high-end. And the build quality was supposed to be superior and felt pretty solid and expensive.

Right now, unless someone makes a big push in all sectors, I plan on getting the S5 once it's out. I had a great experience with my S3 and I don't plan on switching. I did read that the S4 wasn't going to be supported by CM, but I think that proved to be wrong? Or maybe that was the international version.

I need CM. That's like an unofficial requirement of mine. Even if it is a Nexus device, which I would never get, I need CM support on that phone. I"m sure every flagship phone would have it, though.

 

[Pittsey]

Masta is such a Samsung fanboy.

Like if you agree.

 

[masta247]

Masta is such a Samsung fanboy.

Like if you agree.

Lol. It's not my fault they make the best hardware if it comes to smartphones and many other great electronics I gave props to LG for the G2 - this and the Note 3 are 2 of the best (hardware-wise) phones right now. Samsung are on a roll though. I'm not a fanboy. I was never as satisfied with a phone as I am with the S4 though and I have no other Samsung products at home at the moment, just recommending them because they're good more often than not.
If Sony started making great stuff again (other than PS4s) I'd be recommending them all over this thread. Same with any other company. I'm pointing out how it is.

 

[dilla]

I may have to look into the Note 3 if nothing tickles my fancy next year. I do like the S Pen, but I feel at that point the Note 4 would be out within four months after that.

 

[masta247]

I'm looking forward to the Galaxy S5. It's probably going to be announced in the upcoming months. The Note 4 will likely come out around September next year. Still some time to go.
Sony have an event at CES early 2014. They might also announce something cool. Last year it was the Xperia Z. I guess they might show the Xperia Z2. Judging by the Z1 which is one of the top smartphones hardware-wise right now, if they come up with something much better in January/February, that might be a great phone.
HTC might be pretty much dead, but they're planning an "M8", a successor to the HTC One. That is if they still manage to release it.
LG will likely wait a while with releasing their G3, probably during the middle of the year.

 

[Pittsey]

I'm due an upgrade in May. I could get an S5. But they are now mostly owned by Apple fanboys who switched sides.

 

[Casey]

Pittsey is right. I see so many posts on FB/Twitter that always say "Switching from iPhone to Samsung!!!!".

I always try and point out that it's not a two-horse race and that LG, Sony, Motorola and HTC all have incredible flagship Android phones out as well.

It's just that Samsung spends a fuckton of money on advertising everywhere. Which is the same reason all those people had iPhones in the first place.

I dislike the Apple/Samsung duopoly. I haven't owned a Samsung product since I sold my S2 over a year ago. Admittedly, it was a fantastic device, but for my last two purchases LG and Google have impressed me much more than the S3 and S4.

 

[Pittsey]

How much did this cost Samsung?

 

[ARon]

No idea, but that shit was cool

 

[ARon]

I think Samsung is going to shoot itself in the foot when it tries the whole Tizen thing out. To be honest i don't see it coming to the US for a couple more years, maybe it catches on quick enough in test markets but it doesn't seem likely

 

[Casey]

http://gizmodo.com/every-android-ph...m_campaign=Feed:+lifehacker/full+(Lifehacker)

Gizmodo knows what's up. Sorry masta

 

[dilla]

Damn, I just saw the LG G Pad for $250 on Slickdeals, but the deal had expired. It would have been a no-brainer over the N7 at that price.

Is there any word on the S5 and the material that will be used to build it? Will it remain plastic, or did Samsung confirm the rumors that they were going to make it a bit more higher in quality? Aluminium?