Where is the love?

[rrrrrichard]

It's ugly (looks like LG's idea of what Samsung phones look like -- so it's kind of ugly from ugly). It's thick. It has wide margins, especially top and bottom. It has no exciting specs.

Google has to change the Nexus program from a partnering deal to a certification deal. Any vendor should be able to produce a Nexus-branded phone as long as it meets certain physical and software requirements. The hardware specs shouldn't be unnecessarily restrictive, except to disallow any features that require nonstandard driver support that would delay release of Google ROM upgrades. The software specs should be ironclad -- pure Google experience only. Of course, absolutely no carrier branding. If Google wants to choose one or more of each device type for sale in the Play store, fine. I like their pricing policies.

 

[rootbrain]

Personally a lot of people just don't see this nexus as a game breaking phone. I think a lot of people have mixed feelings towards LG and really won't be excited unless this phone seriously knocks the socks off people, then we will be excited about the next LG Nexus, if there is one.

A lot of people just know that Samsung does a good job with the Nexus line and gets crazy excited about a new one.

And personally the LG Nexus really doesn't look all that amazing compared to the Gnex when it came out.

The thing I don't like about Samsung is even on Nexus device they add their own bloat.

Rootbrain

 

[jackdubl]

No LTE? So no Verizon love, then? No LTE will hurt US sales.

Also, lack of LTE, lack of removable battery, lack of removable storage, thickness and weight of the phone... Seems like a mid grade phone for US customers. Funny how the Galaxy S3 has all of these things in a lighter and thinner form factor. Nexus phones are going downhill. Top-of-the-line prepaid phone, but midrange otherwise. Or at least, slightly below flagship.

 

[RickyDavis1051]

No LTE? So no Verizon love, then? No LTE will hurt US sales.

Also, lack of LTE, lack of removable battery, lack of removable storage, thickness and weight of the phone... Seems like a mid grade phone for US customers. Funny how the Galaxy S3 has all of these things in a lighter and thinner form factor. Nexus phones are going downhill. Top-of-the-line prepaid phone, but midrange otherwise. Or at least, slightly below flagship.

Umm no.

 

[jackdubl]

Disagree if you like, but you are probably just showing off your fandom. I owned the Galaxy Nexus. The hardware was below all the other flagship devices. Fast-forward a year, still below other flagship devices. I switched from a Nexus to an S3 and it is light years better. I switched to that Nexus from an HTC Thunderbolt and was shocked to get worse battery life, worse camera, less storage, and fewer features overall. Processor was faster and phone was lighter, that was about it. Oh,and the almighty vanilla android, which you can flash to pretty much any phone if you like. Antenna was terrible.

Also, the onscreen nav buttons are a necessity on a tablet, but a waste of screen space on a smartphone. Why would I want my 4.6" screen cut to 4.3" when there is no reason those buttons need to be on the screen? They were fun to change the graphics and colors on, sure, but I prefer the extra screen. Google has downgraded some of their smartphone features in favor of a unified OS.

And the lack of SD card is mindboggling. Flash memory is incredibly cheap and incredibly small. Ridiculously cheap and getting cheaper all the time. No reason not to include it when the benefits are so great.

Google themselves are saying they don't want to make a flagship device, they want a flagship PRE-PAID/UNLOCKED device.

 

[2003vstrom]

Disagree if you like, but you are probably just showing off your fandom. I owned the Galaxy Nexus. The hardware was below all the other flagship devices. Fast-forward a year, still below other flagship devices. I switched from a Nexus to an S3 and it is light years better. I switched to that Nexus from an HTC Thunderbolt and was shocked to get worse battery life, worse camera, less storage, and fewer features overall. Processor was faster and phone was lighter, that was about it. Oh,and the almighty vanilla android, which you can flash to pretty much any phone if you like. Antenna was terrible.

Also, the onscreen nav buttons are a necessity on a tablet, but a waste of screen space on a smartphone. Why would I want my 4.6" screen cut to 4.3" when there is no reason those buttons need to be on the screen? They were fun to change the graphics and colors on, sure, but I prefer the extra screen. Google has downgraded some of their smartphone features in favor of a unified OS.

And the lack of SD card is mindboggling. Flash memory is incredibly cheap and incredibly small. Ridiculously cheap and getting cheaper all the time. No reason not to include it when the benefits are so great.

Google themselves are saying they don't want to make a flagship device, they want a flagship PRE-PAID/UNLOCKED device.

yeah but it will probably get better reception then samjunk radios I have 2 co-workers that I told them i liked the S3 but reception sucked, and my other co-worker just bought the Note 2 and warned him about the radio, he`s finding out the hard way, he said he might return it go back to his iphone 4 which had alot better reception.

 

[aurora40]

I switched to that Nexus from an HTC Thunderbolt and was shocked to get worse battery life, worse camera, less storage, and fewer features overall. Processor was faster and phone was lighter, that was about it. Oh,and the almighty vanilla android, which you can flash to pretty much any phone if you like. Antenna was terrible.

This is because you have a Verizon Galaxy Nexus... And that experience seems to be why there will not be a Verizon Nexus 4.

Also, the onscreen nav buttons are a necessity on a tablet, but a waste of screen space on a smartphone. Why would I want my 4.6" screen cut to 4.3" when there is no reason those buttons need to be on the screen? They were fun to change the graphics and colors on, sure, but I prefer the extra screen. Google has downgraded some of their smartphone features in favor of a unified OS.

I don't get your issue with on-screen buttons. Dedicated buttons and also a 4.7" screen would result in a huge phone. This way you get the big screen when watching a movie or something, but not the huge size of the screen plus buttons. I think it makes a lot of sense vs wasting phone space with buttons that only sometimes are necessary.

It is a touch-screen. Buttons should be on the screen. The power button is really the only necessary one to wake it up. And volume buttons are a convenience.

To your other points, the Nexus phones have never been cutting edge in all aspects. They have been fairly conservative phones that work well and take advantage of the latest OS features. The Nexus is basically a reference phone for Android. That's why there are other makers. If you want a $600 SIII, those will still exist. The Nexus doesn't replace all other phones. The N4 has a cutting edge processor, improved camera, bigger battery, arguably nicer build, and better screen (no pentile) than the GNex. And it is $100 less than the unlocked GNex was introduced at.

If that doesn't do it for you, get an HTC or Sammy or any other of the many variations of Android phone on the market. That's the beauty of Android...

It's not quite enough for me to spend money vs keeping my GNex. But I bet a lot of Nexus S owners said the same thing when Google debuted the Galaxy Nexus. If I were in the market for a phone now, though, I'd have no reservations about the N4.

 

[jackdubl]

This is because you have a Verizon Galaxy Nexus... And that experience seems to be why there will not be a Verizon Nexus 4.

I don't get your issue with on-screen buttons. Dedicated buttons and also a 4.7" screen would result in a huge phone. This way you get the big screen when watching a movie or something, but not the huge size of the screen plus buttons. I think it makes a lot of sense vs wasting phone space with buttons that only sometimes are necessary.

It is a touch-screen. Buttons should be on the screen. The power button is really the only necessary one to wake it up. And volume buttons are a convenience.

To your other points, the Nexus phones have never been cutting edge in all aspects. They have been fairly conservative phones that work well and take advantage of the latest OS features. The Nexus is basically a reference phone for Android. That's why there are other makers. If you want a $600 SIII, those will still exist. The Nexus doesn't replace all other phones. The N4 has a cutting edge processor, improved camera, bigger battery, arguably nicer build, and better screen (no pentile) than the GNex. And it is $100 less than the unlocked GNex was introduced at.

If that doesn't do it for you, get an HTC or Sammy or any other of the many variations of Android phone on the market. That's the beauty of Android...

It's not quite enough for me to spend money vs keeping my GNex. But I bet a lot of Nexus S owners said the same thing when Google debuted the Galaxy Nexus. If I were in the market for a phone now, though, I'd have no reservations about the N4.

Agree with everything you say, except those nav buttons. Look at the Nexus 4. You're telling me you would rather have that large, mostly unused chin on the bottom and smaller screen space for little things like reading text, browsing Web pages, playing games, taking pictures, everything but watching a movie? Don't see anything wrong there? The phone would be the same size, you would just move the buttons down to the ample space already there. Makes no sense to me. The S3 is about the same size as the Gnex, yet they found a way to give you all 4.8" instead of the usable 4.3" on the Gnex, in the same form factor. One look at the Nexus 4 shows they could have done the same thing. It is a choice by Google, most likely a cost-saving choice.

 

[g_patrick15]

Agree with everything you say, except those nav buttons. Look at the Nexus 4. You're telling me you would rather have that large, mostly unused chin on the bottom and smaller screen space for little things like reading text, browsing Web pages, playing games, taking pictures, everything but watching a movie? Don't see anything wrong there? The phone would be the same size, you would just move the buttons down to the ample space already there. Makes no sense to me. The S3 is about the same size as the Gnex, yet they found a way to give you all 4.8" instead of the usable 4.3" on the Gnex, in the same form factor. One look at the Nexus 4 shows they could have done the same thing. It is a choice by Google, most likely a cost-saving choice.

How is implementing on screen nav buttons vs capacitive buttons a cost saving choice?

 

[jackdubl]

Because it doesn't require any extra hardware design. It's all software.

 

[aurora40]

Well, the N4 is 134x69x9mm. The SIII is 137x71x9mm. Maybe if they had to put electronics in for capacitive buttons, it would be bigger. Maybe the SIII packaged better. I don't know. Maybe it is cost, could be the case.

Honestly, I'd love it if the entire face of the phone were screen, make the phone as small as possible around a given sized screen. But technology isn't there yet. I don't mind the on-screen buttons at all though. On a tablet it is more of a waste, as the buttons only fill like 10% of the black bar. It annoys me slightly on my Tablet S. But again, it does go away when watching videos, and some browsers will hide it.

 

[g_patrick15]

Google implemented the software buttons in Android 4.0 with hopes that other manufacturers would also make that move. Most OEMs didn't, but then again most OEMs are still caught up in their Frankendroid setups that seem to be hybrid Gingerbread and ICS. They have no interest in other OEMs cutting costs, all they supply is the OS. As far as Nexus devices go, the 4 is top tier in all ways other than storage. The screen is top notch. The processor is bleeding edge. Google is selling the device likely at cost or just breaking even, despite the great hardware. The only corner they cut is with the storage. I highly doubt they moved the buttons to software to cut cost, not with the many other ways they can cut cost. They are actually useful, what with the multitasking button and the way they can change depending on what's going on onscreen. However, I DO agree with you that, if they are going with onscreen buttons, they could make the bottom bezel a tad bit smaller, but by all means it's not a big deal.

 

[jackdubl]

They didn't do the on screen button in hopes that OEMs would do the same, they did it because they were creating a unified OS for phones and tablets. Now think of a tablet. Capacitive buttons won't work because once you switch between landscape/portrait on a tablet, capacitive buttons would be way out of place. The tablet is too large. But it's a different story on a phone, where the buttons are always conveniently located whether in landscape or portrait.

 

[biker74]

I see the Nexus is now on Google Play. Begins shipping 13 Nov. My query is, how are they able to sell it so cheaply. 8GB -

 

[yfan]

Agree with everything you say, except those nav buttons. Look at the Nexus 4. You're telling me you would rather have that large, mostly unused chin on the bottom and smaller screen space for little things like reading text, browsing Web pages, playing games, taking pictures, everything but watching a movie?

Actually, yes, I would. Before I had the Galaxy Nexus, I thought it would be kind of silly to have on screen buttons. But after I used it, I would have it no other way. the buttons move around as part of the screen, so there is no "wrong way to hold" the phone. And about that chin: I do in fact prefer it. Capacitive buttons too close to the edge constantly get pressed by mistake and I hate that.

 

[iowabowtech]

Actually, yes, I would. Before I had the Galaxy Nexus, I thought it would be kind of silly to have on screen buttons. But after I used it, I would have it no other way. the buttons move around as part of the screen, so there is no "wrong way to hold" the phone. And about that chin: I do in fact prefer it. Capacitive buttons too close to the edge constantly get pressed by mistake and I hate that.

Agreed. The Gnex has completely cured my desire for physical buttons. They are not necessary and undesired by myself. I do, however like the idea of a removable sdcard. Certain mistakes pretty much force the use of ADB to recover which is fine by me but can make for a long and winding road for root noobs. And it really doesn't need to be that difficult.

 

[RickyDavis1051]

Because it doesn't require any extra hardware design. It's all software.

Do u guys know if I will be able to order this from the play store on the 13th without a problem or will they sell out? Sorry for off topic

 

[jackdubl]

Actually, yes, I would. Before I had the Galaxy Nexus, I thought it would be kind of silly to have on screen buttons. But after I used it, I would have it no other way. the buttons move around as part of the screen, so there is no "wrong way to hold" the phone. And about that chin: I do in fact prefer it. Capacitive buttons too close to the edge constantly get pressed by mistake and I hate that.

Interesting. On my Gnex, the buttons stayed in the same place and merely rotated when you rotated the phone, so I don't know what you mean by they are always in the right place. Except for the menu button, that is. It is constantly in a different place depending on what you are doing, meaning you are periodically searching for it. But if you like that better, I won't try to convince you otherwise. Me, I love the extra screen.

 

[MT Rotor]

Nexus 4 FTW

 

[HereticSins]

Lg nexus 4 looks great. Who cares about lte. Most people have wifi and hspa+ is fast enough to do anything you want. Lg makes great hardware, google great software, so win win. Honestly i think the gnex looks kinda cheap with that plastic and the s3 as well, lg nexus is the best nexus so far,imho.

 

[RickyDavis1051]

Lg nexus 4 looks great. Who cares about lte. Most people have wifi and hspa+ is fast enough to do anything you want. Lg makes great hardware, google great software, so win win. Honestly i think the gnex looks kinda cheap with that plastic and the s3 as well, lg nexus is the best nexus so far,imho.

I have the s3 and I agree. Can't wait until I get this Bad boy!!!

 

[yfan]

Interesting. On my Gnex, the buttons stayed in the same place and merely rotated when you rotated the phone, so I don't know what you mean by they are always in the right place.

Well, try this. When you are in an app, say YouTube, turn your phone horizontal. The buttons are in the same place, now on your right. Now turn the phone 180 degrees, meaning it's still horizontal, but the other way. Oh look, your on screen buttons moved to what is now new right side of the screen. In other words, the buttons adjust themselves to the orientation of the screen, given rotation is available in a given app.

But yes, I do recognize that this is an entirely personal and subjective choice.

 

[MT Rotor]

Lg nexus 4 looks great. Who cares about lte. Most people have wifi and hspa+ is fast enough to do anything you want. Lg makes great hardware, google great software, so win win. Honestly i think the gnex looks kinda cheap with that plastic and the s3 as well, lg nexus is the best nexus so far,imho.

+1 for Nex4

 

[jackdubl]

Well, try this. When you are in an app, say YouTube, turn your phone horizontal. The buttons are in the same place, now on your right. Now turn the phone 180 degrees, meaning it's still horizontal, but the other way. Oh look, your on screen buttons moved to what is now new right side of the screen. In other words, the buttons adjust themselves to the orientation of the screen, given rotation is available in a given app.

But yes, I do recognize that this is an entirely personal and subjective choice.

Ah, ok, now I get what you meant. Yes, that is an advantage, for sure.

 

[RickyDavis1051]

Well the hardware is up there, but it's not released top of the line. Like it won't be the best phone on the market on release day. That's what I meant.

Beg to differ.