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Anyone with galaxy nexus here ???
- Thread starter TheBigKing
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I actually have both a Galaxy Nexus and a Galaxy S3. I've been using the GNexus a lot more lately since buying a Nexus 7 tablet. Forgot how nice plain vanilla Jelly Bean was.
Galaxy Nexus owners,
I'd like to know some info as my contract with AT&T is about to end. I am checking possible options for a successor to my iPhone 4.
Before, I would have been strictly only looking at Apple.. Ignoring anything and every other smartphone available. With the playing field more leveled in 2012 than ever before, we have a lot more options in the market.
If I do get a Galaxy Nexus, it will be the HSPA+ model currently being sold at $349 on Google's Play store. My network will be prepaid with T-Mobile ($30/ mo) or Straight Talk ($45/mo).
I've done a lot of research in my own time, but I wanted your personal input as it is difficult to test / play with the actual device anywhere. Dummy versions of it at Best Buy can't justify the Vanilla Android experience.
Here are my 10 questions:
1. How was your experience moving from an iPhone/iOS and switching to Jelly Bean? Was it difficult / scary?
2. How did you integrate your information from the Mac or PC with Android?
3. What are your favorite Android features that iOS does not have or does not do well in? And vice versa.
4. Did you have an iPhone before? If yes, what made you switch to Android? If no, you're welcome to explain the reason to upgrade.
5. Are there any steps or advice you may have for potential OS switchers?
6. What are the top 5 tweaks / apps / things you did to it? Any recommendations?
7. Did you put a case on it? Get the extended battery? Other mods?
8. What speeds do you get with your network? Does the hotspot feature get blocked or restricted at all?
9. Are you using a pre-paid plan or contract? Which company and carrier?
10. Why did you get the Galaxy Nexus? Would you do it again?
Thanks for your time!
I'd like to know some info as my contract with AT&T is about to end. I am checking possible options for a successor to my iPhone 4.
Before, I would have been strictly only looking at Apple.. Ignoring anything and every other smartphone available. With the playing field more leveled in 2012 than ever before, we have a lot more options in the market.
If I do get a Galaxy Nexus, it will be the HSPA+ model currently being sold at $349 on Google's Play store. My network will be prepaid with T-Mobile ($30/ mo) or Straight Talk ($45/mo).
I've done a lot of research in my own time, but I wanted your personal input as it is difficult to test / play with the actual device anywhere. Dummy versions of it at Best Buy can't justify the Vanilla Android experience.
Here are my 10 questions:
1. How was your experience moving from an iPhone/iOS and switching to Jelly Bean? Was it difficult / scary?
2. How did you integrate your information from the Mac or PC with Android?
3. What are your favorite Android features that iOS does not have or does not do well in? And vice versa.
4. Did you have an iPhone before? If yes, what made you switch to Android? If no, you're welcome to explain the reason to upgrade.
5. Are there any steps or advice you may have for potential OS switchers?
6. What are the top 5 tweaks / apps / things you did to it? Any recommendations?
7. Did you put a case on it? Get the extended battery? Other mods?
8. What speeds do you get with your network? Does the hotspot feature get blocked or restricted at all?
9. Are you using a pre-paid plan or contract? Which company and carrier?
10. Why did you get the Galaxy Nexus? Would you do it again?
Thanks for your time!
A lot of what you ask is iOS versus Android debate, which is covered ad nauseum in other threads. But, for the sake of trying to help, I'll try to be brief.Galaxy Nexus owners,
I'd like to know some info as my contract with AT&T is about to end. I am checking possible options for a successor to my iPhone 4.
Before, I would have been strictly only looking at Apple.. Ignoring anything and every other smartphone available. With the playing field more leveled in 2012 than ever before, we have a lot more options in the market.
If I do get a Galaxy Nexus, it will be the HSPA+ model currently being sold at $349 on Google's Play store. My network will be prepaid with T-Mobile ($30/ mo) or Straight Talk ($45/mo).
I've done a lot of research in my own time, but I wanted your personal input as it is difficult to test / play with the actual device anywhere. Dummy versions of it at Best Buy can't justify the Vanilla Android experience.
Here are my 10 questions:
1. How was your experience moving from an iPhone/iOS and switching to Jelly Bean? Was it difficult / scary?
2. How did you integrate your information from the Mac or PC with Android?
3. What are your favorite Android features that iOS does not have or does not do well in? And vice versa.
4. Did you have an iPhone before? If yes, what made you switch to Android? If no, you're welcome to explain the reason to upgrade.
5. Are there any steps or advice you may have for potential OS switchers?
6. What are the top 5 tweaks / apps / things you did to it? Any recommendations?
7. Did you put a case on it? Get the extended battery? Other mods?
8. What speeds do you get with your network? Does the hotspot feature get blocked or restricted at all?
9. Are you using a pre-paid plan or contract? Which company and carrier?
10. Why did you get the Galaxy Nexus? Would you do it again?
Thanks for your time!
1. I had every iPhone from the original thru the 4S. Unfortunately, the only carrier where I work that has any reliability is Verizon. So between the (AT&T) iPhone 3GS and the Verizon iPhone 4, I toyed with two different Android phones on Verizon. And as a gadget nerd at heart, I enjoyed the experience. But, Android and iOS are different beasts. Plan on spending some time to get comfortable.
2. I was already a heavy user of Gmail and Google Contacts, so moving my calendar over was fairly simple and didn't cause any trouble (works well with iCal and Apple's Address Book). The only "hard part" was paying for several apps I rely upon that I had to rebuy for Android.
3. UI is more consistent in iOS. Android apps' UIs are all over the place. Widgets on Android are handy - it's ridiculous that iOS still doesn't have icons that can change (for example, why doesn't the weather app icon reflect the current condition?). You can spend hours customizing Android to your liking - and this is both a blessing and a curse.
4. As above.
5. My advice is to make sure the apps you need are available (and of good quality) before making the irreversible leap.
6. I've unlocked the bootloader & rooted, installed Jelly Bean, installed an alternative launcher (Nova) which as a few more features than the stock launcher.
7. While the GSM Nexus is better insofar as battery life compared to the Verizon LTE model, strongly consider the OEM extended battery. It's 2000mAh vs. 1750mAH (2100 vs. 1850 for the LTE models), so not a huge boost, but every bit helps. Do note that the GSM and LTE batteries are NOT interchangeable.
8. Since I'm on Verizon, I get great LTE speeds. The hotspot on my ROM (Bugless Beast by Peter Alfonso, Jelly Bean version) has unrestricted tethering - though to be honest, I pay for the option on my service plan.
9. VZW, post-paid contract.
10. I chose the Nexus because I had hoped software updates would be rapid and plentiful. Unfortunately, for us Verizon customers, that hasn't been the case. However, the developer community has eliminated the need to depend on Verizon.
Get it. Don't worry. It'll be an adjustment and it might even be overwhelming if you're really used to iOS but once you set it up its great. There's a whole world for you to discover depending how deep you want to go. You won't regret it.
Or maybe wait for the next Nexus if you can.
Or maybe wait for the next Nexus if you can.
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I had the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon (CDMA/LTE version). Basically gave up on that phone after 4 months. Brought it first day it came out in December and sold it in March.
Samsung makes horrible CDMA antennas. If you really wanted a Gnex, go with the GSM version. (mind you that the Galaxy S3 with Verizon/Sprint has duo CDMA/GSM chip so that antenna is totally different than a pure CDMA antenna that the Galaxy Nexus with Verizon has).
Pure google is always the best.
But there are some drawbacks with both GSM and CDMA Galaxy Nexus
1. Camera is subpar. While the shutter speed is very fast, I find it takes worst pics that even the 2 year old iPhone 4.
2. Speaker phone volume is low. If you rely on speaker phone or just like using speaker phones for listening to youtube music etc, than this phone is not for you. Can barely hear Netflix unless you are in a quiet room.
3. Display is good but not great. Compare the "pentile" screen of the Galaxy Nexus with the "pentile" screen of the newer Galaxy S3. You will notice a difference. It's like Samsung improved the pentile screen in the S3.
Samsung makes horrible CDMA antennas. If you really wanted a Gnex, go with the GSM version. (mind you that the Galaxy S3 with Verizon/Sprint has duo CDMA/GSM chip so that antenna is totally different than a pure CDMA antenna that the Galaxy Nexus with Verizon has).
Pure google is always the best.
But there are some drawbacks with both GSM and CDMA Galaxy Nexus
1. Camera is subpar. While the shutter speed is very fast, I find it takes worst pics that even the 2 year old iPhone 4.
2. Speaker phone volume is low. If you rely on speaker phone or just like using speaker phones for listening to youtube music etc, than this phone is not for you. Can barely hear Netflix unless you are in a quiet room.
3. Display is good but not great. Compare the "pentile" screen of the Galaxy Nexus with the "pentile" screen of the newer Galaxy S3. You will notice a difference. It's like Samsung improved the pentile screen in the S3.