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Cheapest way to experience Android 4.2 and Google Now?
- Thread starter Allenbf
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I think you already did.
Of course it was my opinion, I'm the person who typed the words onto the screen and clicked 'submit reply'.
Hey smart guy, if you'd actually read what I wrote, I took offense to you unequivocally saying Google Now isn't worth it and pushing your opinion on someone else. I didn't get offended that you actually had an opinion. Big difference.
Reading is fundamental.
Google Now hasn't proven all that great in my usage either. The biggest problem I have with it is that it can only monitor Google email addresses for plane tickets and packages. It would be great if there was an easy way to have Google Now monitor other email addresses seamlessly. And before anyone mentions it, setting up email forwarding does not in any way constitute as seamless.
Other than that, its just decent. Voice search isn't all that great either. The updated reminders are kind of cool, but it would be SO much better if they would automatically be added to your calendar. It would also be awesome if you could set up an alarm for "tomorrow" by voice. And it really isn't even hands free. If you want to send a text message to someone, you can't say "send", you are required to use the touchscreen. Same thing with even starting Google Now. It would be so much better if there was an easy way to start Google Now's voice capabilities without ever having to look at the phone and use on screen buttons.
Other than that, its just decent. Voice search isn't all that great either. The updated reminders are kind of cool, but it would be SO much better if they would automatically be added to your calendar. It would also be awesome if you could set up an alarm for "tomorrow" by voice. And it really isn't even hands free. If you want to send a text message to someone, you can't say "send", you are required to use the touchscreen. Same thing with even starting Google Now. It would be so much better if there was an easy way to start Google Now's voice capabilities without ever having to look at the phone and use on screen buttons.
Settings>Voice>Hot word detection... say "Google" to initiate a voice search.
If you've got a Galaxy line phone, you can turn on voice detection to wake it and then say "Hi Galaxy". You never have to touch the phone.
I think most people will take that as an opinion, but you wrote it as a fact. I mean the "Truthfully, TRUTHFULLY..." part was a bit much don't you think?
This thread reminds me a bit if the old Mac vs PC debate.
"I'll try Android, but I want a cheap one. And I'll compare it to my $600 iPhone."
If you do this, you will certainly be displeased with Android.
If you truly want a stock Android experience in Verizon, you have 2 options:
1) Galaxy Nexus. (Terrible signal and bettery life however)
2) Wait for a 'Google Edition' ROM, get a Verizon S4, Root and load the ROM.
Both options are imperfect. Google and CDMA seem not to play nice.
"I'll try Android, but I want a cheap one. And I'll compare it to my $600 iPhone."
If you do this, you will certainly be displeased with Android.
If you truly want a stock Android experience in Verizon, you have 2 options:
1) Galaxy Nexus. (Terrible signal and bettery life however)
2) Wait for a 'Google Edition' ROM, get a Verizon S4, Root and load the ROM.
Both options are imperfect. Google and CDMA seem not to play nice.
1. Only solves the problem of starting voice search
2. Only solves the problem if it recognizes you saying "Google", which in my usage it has been extremely inconsistent and I have no weird accent.
3. Still requires the use of the touch screen to first pull up Google Now so you can then say "Google"
So yes, you do still have to touch the phone. And this doesn't even get close to solving the other problems I mentioned where you are required to use the touch screen in order to complete tasks.
Sorry, but this is far from a legitimate solution.
Haha sorry if that came across as rude. Communicating tone is always difficult on forums
But yes, I did already know about saying "Google" to initiate voice search. I thought it was obvious that I knew about this option, otherwise I would have been talking badly about Google Now without proper knowledge of it, which is a big no-no.
But I do appreciate the advice. Unfortunately even if this did work more consistently, it would not fix the fact that one must use touch input to accomplish tasks. Google Now is far from hands free.
Haha sorry if that came across as rude. Communicating tone is always difficult on forums
But yes, I did already know about saying "Google" to initiate voice search. I thought it was obvious that I knew about this option, otherwise I would have been talking badly about Google Now without proper knowledge of it, which is a big no-no.
But I do appreciate the advice. Unfortunately even if this did work more consistently, it would not fix the fact that one must use touch input to accomplish tasks. Google Now is far from hands free.
Sorry man. Yeah, it's hard to have tone come across online. It's all good. :thumbup:
And I agree that it doesn't work as well as it could. Plus, using the Hi Galaxy wakeup command does drain battery. But it's exciting to see where things like this go eventually. I guess they've gotta start somewhere, right?
Just imagine what phones will be like in 10 years...jeez. Will they even be recognizable? It's crazy to think how far wireless tech has come in just a few short years.
I didn't say I am comparing it to my iPhone, did I? I said I want to Play (no puns intended) in the Google world a bit and wanted the least expensive way to do so. Based on recommendations, I am thinking about the Nexus 7 for my testing purposes and to fully test Google Now.
Frankly, my ultimate hope is that I can perhaps have an Android phone (like the Nexus 4) and a retina iPad mini. Google Now in all its glory on the go, but iTunes for movies and such on the iPad. We will see.
Thanks again everyone for the awesome feedback! You folks are great
Cool, thanks. I'm thinking so, too. I could tether to my iphone for free anyway (verizon) and should get the full Google Now experience. Thanks for the feedback!