New to GNex

[marbledgodwit]

This is my 1st smartphone and I actually did some research before I bought it......still bought it!!!

That said, I do have a few questions and in asking them, may I say that I have spent the last couple of days reading through the many posts on this forum! Knew the battery was an issue - it does suck & I already have the extended battery.....sucks slightly less!

I took off the pre loaded Google+ & the other non Google email app - got a message saying that uninstalling may cause other apps not to function properly. Uninstalled them both any way. - was this a mistake?

Turned the back up data off after reading another post - trying to conserve my battery life as much as I can. Was this a bad thing?

Have a photo that a friend sent me in a text - have tried but can't save it to my gallery. I know there is a way........

Have looked for better instructions on using the camera - am I missing that post some where?

Next stupid question.....have sites that I visit frequently. Book marked them- how on earth can I put those in a folder on one of my screens so that I don't have to constantly reenter them?

Last stupid question - correcting spelling mistakes in a text or post. I thought I should be able to move that little blue marker to a spot in the text so that I can make the correction. My little blue marker has a mind of it's own and often goes where it wants.... Is there a better.....easier way to do this?

The kid at Verizon said this phone is easy & intuitive - only if you already know how to use it!!!! Found an online manual, but not very helpful.

Guess I should have put Verizon in the title......

What the heck is a kernel and what does it do for me?!!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Petrah]

This is my 1st smartphone and I actually did some research before I bought it......still bought it!!!

That said, I do have a few questions and in asking them, may I say that I have spent the last couple of days reading through the many posts on this forum! Knew the battery was an issue - it does suck & I already have the extended battery.....sucks slightly less!

1: I took off the pre loaded Google+ & the other non Google email app - got a message saying that uninstalling may cause other apps not to function properly. Uninstalled them both any way. - was this a mistake?

2: Turned the back up data off after reading another post - trying to conserve my battery life as much as I can. Was this a bad thing?

3: Have a photo that a friend sent me in a text - have tried but can't save it to my gallery. I know there is a way........

4: Have looked for better instructions on using the camera - am I missing that post some where?

5: Next stupid question.....have sites that I visit frequently. Book marked them- how on earth can I put those in a folder on one of my screens so that I don't have to constantly reenter them?

6: Last stupid question - correcting spelling mistakes in a text or post. I thought I should be able to move that little blue marker to a spot in the text so that I can make the correction. My little blue marker has a mind of it's own and often goes where it wants.... Is there a better.....easier way to do this?

The kid at Verizon said this phone is easy & intuitive - only if you already know how to use it!!!! Found an online manual, but not very helpful.

Guess I should have put Verizon in the title......

7: What the heck is a kernel and what does it do for me?!!

Thanks in advance.

I have a different version of the G-Nex, but will try to help as best I can. Always remember though that no question is stupid. You're here to learn, and we're here to help.

1: No idea if Verizon baked that into the rom, so not sure if it can be completely uninstalled.

2: I'm sure you know the pros and cons of disabling this feature, so will just state that it's a matter of personal preference.

3: Long press with your finger on the photo and you should be prompted with a popup box to save the image.

4: Can't help you with the phones camera, sorry. I don't use it that much since I have a regular camera.

5: Long press on your homescreen with your finger, and when the popup box appears choose Shortcuts and then choose Bookmarks. You'll figure it out from there.

6: I cannot remember how this function worked before I rooted my phone. Since I run a custom rom I'm thinking my settings are different as mine allows me to use the volume keys to move the cursor where I want it. Wish I could offer more assistance with this one.

7: You really only need to know about kernels if you intend to root your phone and install a custom kernel. But I think learning is fun, so here's a link for you:

Kernel (computing) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[marbledgodwit]

Thanks for an informative & timely reply!!! Some of this frustrating because it should be fairly straight forward!

 

[FramCire]

Thanks for an informative & timely reply!!! Some of this frustrating because it should be fairly straight forward!

This is android. You can do a ton but you have to learn how. If you want simple and easy, go iPhone. To me the options of android are less intuitive because there are so many.

This wasn't meant to be rude, just factual.

 

[Petrah]

This is android. You can do a ton but you have to learn how. If you want simple and easy, go iPhone. To me the options of android are less intuitive because there are so many.

This wasn't meant to be rude, just factual.

Pfft. I wouldn't wish an iPhone on my worst enemy, much less a new forum member. Besides, I doubt the op is looking for simple and easy as he/she has already take a step in the right direction by looking for the answers on his/her own. That's more than most new users will bother with.

 

[Petrah]

Thanks for an informative & timely reply!!! Some of this frustrating because it should be fairly straight forward!

One would think so, but the booklet (if you can even call it that) that comes with the phone is pretty fail. Even the online users guide for this phone is not as intuitive as the one I got with my previous phone that ran Android 2.2.

I know it's frustrating especially since this is your first Android. It can be seriously overwhelming in the beginning. But that's why we're here.

 

[FramCire]

Pfft. I wouldn't wish an iPhone on my worst enemy, much less a new forum member. Besides, I doubt the op is looking for simple and easy as he/she has already take a step in the right direction by looking for the answers on his/her own. That's more than most new users will bother with.

I got my mom an iPhone. I told her I thought it was an inferior phone but out of the box easiest to use.

I don't think an iPhone is awful, I just think it is for the out of box use as is user.

 

[marbledgodwit]

I am new to the smart phone/ android game, but I chose it because I want options (even if I don't quite know what they are or what to do with them yet!). I want nothing to do with anything remotely related to Apple!

I can appreciate the honesty! Everyone at work told me to get an iPhone because they are a no brainer - they can keep their iPhones! I usually do lots of research and am willing to investigate & learn!!!

Reading through all the posts has made me realize how versatile android is and how much I have to learn!

Thanks to you both - for the honesty & info!

 

[Petrah]

I got my mom an iPhone. I told her I thought it was an inferior phone but out of the box easiest to use.

I don't think an iPhone is awful, I just think it is for the out of box use as is user.

I think some of my disdain for Apple and the stupid stunts they are pulling right now ended up in my post lol. Sorry about that!

 

[AntimonyER]

I am new to the smart phone/ android game, but I chose it because I want options (even if I don't quite know what they are or what to do with them yet!). I want nothing to do with anything remotely related to Apple!

I can appreciate the honesty! Everyone at work told me to get an iPhone because they are a no brainer - they can keep their iPhones! I usually do lots of research and am willing to investigate & learn!!!

Reading through all the posts has made me realize how versatile android is and how much I have to learn!

Thanks to you both - for the honesty & info!

Give it a little time, and effort, and you will be in love with every little part of Android. I play with iPhones from time to time, and after cursing at the small screen, I am flabbergasted at what it can't do that I take for granted now.

 

[GalaxyNexus]

I can't believe Apple users have been living without widgets! A peer of mine was watching me use my Nexus 7 and asked what "that was" (my clock widget that displays the weather). I explained to the man that it was called a widget, he was amazed that it changed in real time every time I unlocked my tab. He also inquired about my "PaperLand Live Wallpaper" that changes the lighting and weather based on the time of day and weather in your area. Things like that are basic Android features which so many people are missing out on.

Quite honestly, it's amazing how behind apple is. Their OS is an app launcher, yet people love it?!?! Why would you pay double the price for something with half the functionality? I just don't get it...

EDIT:


YAY 400th POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[marbledgodwit]

Am a she, BTW!! I share your disrespect of Apple - I don't understand how (or Microsoft) they are allowed to monopolize everything.

I love the idea of widgets, but it seems that all the best things about an android phone aren't compatible with a good battery life!!! All the advice given is to not load your phone with the great apps or Widgets, so they won't suck the battery dry. Shame. I am going to have to go with the shamu battery apparently!

Will be playing with the phone and if I have any more questions - when I have more questions, I will just add them to this post.

Thanks for the encouragement - have to admit I was ready to toss it the other day! My son got a Razor at the same time I got this. He keeps his on 4 G, keeps the screen on bright all the time and never gets below 50%. I on the other hand had to get the extended battery by the 3rd day!!! Something is not right here!!! Was considering trading it for the Razor, but there something I liked so much about the GNex.....

 

[FramCire]

By the way, researching and customizing is awesome. I, in no way, wished to seem like I was trying to move you to iPhone.

Keep researching questions. I will warn you, you won't ever stop learning and customizing.

First apps
Widgets
Themes
Launchers
Alternate to stock apps
Root
Rom
Kernel
Flashing radios
Mods

The list goes on and on....... and the best part is each step makes your phone seem like a new device. Modding your phone is addictive.

As for battery, plug it in whenever you can. Use the battery saving tips as you wish but don't let it stop you from using your phone to optimal function.

Welcome aboard.

 

[lordj]

Am a she, BTW!! I share your disrespect of Apple - I don't understand how (or Microsoft) they are allowed to monopolize everything.

I love the idea of widgets, but it seems that all the best things about an android phone aren't compatible with a good battery life!!! All the advice given is to not load your phone with the great apps or Widgets, so they won't suck the battery dry. Shame. I am going to have to go with the shamu battery apparently!

Will be playing with the phone and if I have any more questions - when I have more questions, I will just add them to this post.

Thanks for the encouragement - have to admit I was ready to toss it the other day! My son got a Razor at the same time I got this. He keeps his on 4 G, keeps the screen on bright all the time and never gets below 50%. I on the other hand had to get the extended battery by the 3rd day!!! Something is not right here!!! Was considering trading it for the Razor, but there something I liked so much about the GNex.....

I just keep a spare charged battery with me, doesn't take up much room in the pocket, and between the two I've yet to be without my phone due to no juice. Sure, it's not ideal, but at least it doesn't make my GNex look like this:

 

[candroid11]

I find it really odd that people call android hard to use. I got my first smartphone last year (and only my second cell phone ever), and it (Nexus S at the time) was the easiest and most user friendly device I have ever owned. Android just works so naturally for me. I never had to read a manual.

 

[joesixpack]

+1 to candroid11. The GNex is my first smartphone and I found it was really easy to use. You just have to immerse yourself in the phone, read up on things you may not understand, and not be afraid to try new things out. Feel free to ask any questions you have - everyone here has been really tolerant of all the questions I've asked and is more than happy to help. I'm no "genius", but I know a LOT more now than I did 8 months ago!

Welcome aboard!

 

[NatoDroid]

This is my 1st smartphone and I actually did some research before I bought it......still bought it!!!

That said, I do have a few questions and in asking them, may I say that I have spent the last couple of days reading through the many posts on this forum! Knew the battery was an issue - it does suck & I already have the extended battery.....sucks slightly less!

I took off the pre loaded Google+ & the other non Google email app - got a message saying that uninstalling may cause other apps not to function properly. Uninstalled them both any way. - was this a mistake?

Turned the back up data off after reading another post - trying to conserve my battery life as much as I can. Was this a bad thing?

Have a photo that a friend sent me in a text - have tried but can't save it to my gallery. I know there is a way........

Have looked for better instructions on using the camera - am I missing that post some where?

Next stupid question.....have sites that I visit frequently. Book marked them- how on earth can I put those in a folder on one of my screens so that I don't have to constantly reenter them?

Last stupid question - correcting spelling mistakes in a text or post. I thought I should be able to move that little blue marker to a spot in the text so that I can make the correction. My little blue marker has a mind of it's own and often goes where it wants.... Is there a better.....easier way to do this?

The kid at Verizon said this phone is easy & intuitive - only if you already know how to use it!!!! Found an online manual, but not very helpful.

Guess I should have put Verizon in the title......

What the heck is a kernel and what does it do for me?!!

Thanks in advance.

When I first came to the Nexus I learned all the tips and tricks through Youtube then started research apps like launchers(TSF Shell), keyboards(Swift KeyX) and Widgets to make it my own. it all took about a week or two to figure it out but now that I got all this customization I'd never go back to anything but Android.

1. I don't see any problems with removing the preloaded google apps

2. I left my Back Up Data feature on, because it doesn't seem to be wasting most of my battery. 50% of the battery usage is the Screen itself.

3. I have yet to solve that problem, I usually just take a Screenshot of the photo. Screenshot: Pressing and holding for a moment Volume down and Power button at the same time.

4. Bookmarks that were saved can be brought out as a Widget, go to any of your Blank screens tap and hold the screen until a pop up menu comes up then press Widgets; you can then scroll down until you see Bookmarks. you can then resize and move the bookmark widget around the screen.


5. I am sorry I can't help you with that, I download a different keyboard called Swift KeyX and personally love it.

I hopes this helps,
NatoDroid

P.S. My First Post

 

[Zeinzu]

You can use all the apps and widgets you want if you fine tune the settings to conserve battery. When you download an app or load a widget its default settings are usually based on showing off what it's capable of, but that doesn't mean you need something to update every hour or auto update at all if your fine with updating it manually. I have 65 apps and 5 screens of nothing but widgets. I get 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours of total screen on time and can get over 24hrs on a charge depending on how quickly I rack up the screen time. My standby battery drain is minimal, which means my standby battery life is phenomenal.

Also, to correct a word with the curser (if your keyboard isn't showing a suggestions bar) tap on the word then tap on the blue curser. It "should" give you an option to replace and when clicked, will give you suggested words. And in your keyboard settings make sure auto correct, punctuation, capitalization, and suggestions are all turned on. Should be in settings, language and input, Android Keyboard.

 

[marbledgodwit]

NatoDroid & Zeinzu - thanks so for the help. I really appreciate all the answers!!! I know its not rocket science, but it would appear that I am not a smart phone genius!!!!!

Thanks for the answers & welcome everyone!! Am going to try my hand at a few apps to increase volume & change/improve the keyboard, among other things.

Zeinzu, I really appreciate the cursor assist! That was a major frustration!!!

 

[marbledgodwit]

Ok, while I am exploring the world of launchers, widgets & other fun things, I do have a question. I have several friends who send me photos via text. Sometimes I get the pic without problems (even was in a state park in a small town & had no problems. Was not on WIFI of course), yet at work or just now at home - I can't download the pic or it takes a long time. Like now, a friend sent me a pic via text & I can't download it. It just says downloading. Surely I can be on WIFI & get pics via text? What gives?

 

[Zeinzu]

Ok, while I am exploring the world of launchers, widgets & other fun things, I do have a question. I have several friends who send me photos via text. Sometimes I get the pic without problems (even was in a state park in a small town & had no problems. Was not on WIFI of course), yet at work or just now at home - I can't download the pic or it takes a long time. Like now, a friend sent me a pic via text & I can't download it. It just says downloading. Surely I can be on WIFI & get pics via text? What gives?

MMS messages must be downloaded from the carrier network. You can have WiFi on, but must have network data still enabled so it can activate in the background behind the WiFi connection when you attempt to download the MMS. If it still will not download then 9 times out of 10 nothing is wrong and it is just poor signal or a carrier related snag up. Try relocating temporarily or rebooting, then attempt the download again.

 

[marbledgodwit]

Thanks so much!! I guessed that might be the issue about an hour later & asked that the MMS be sent again. It finally came through, after I enabled my mobile data.
Thanks again for such a detailed answer very helpful!!!

 

[Jay3]

I don't think you can press and hold the screen anymore to set up a web book mark. I think you need to go to widgets and choose the bookmark widget, then put it on the screen you want. Do multiple ones, and put them on a desktop, then you can press and hold them, put them on top of each other, to make a folder with all of them.

Really, it's easier to just put your Chrome browser icon in the dock, and keep your favorite sites open as tabs. That's what I do -- just switch between tabs all the time.