GS4 with stock Android

[paulsalter]

Not sure if this has been posted before

What are peoples views on this, would this now persuade you to get an S4 if this is true

http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-s4-google-edition-209440/

 

[0dev]

Since Samsung has made a new Nexus devices and the Nexus 4 is getting on a bit these days it wouldn't surprise me. It'd be very tempting for sure.

 

[Krimsonmyst]

I already have a GS4, but I would flash this as SOON as it become available on the condition that it keeps the camera features of TouchWiz.

While I love the smoothness of vanilla Android, the camera on TouchWiz is so much better it's stupid.

 

[Jibbajabba]

What I'd hate is losing the ability of connecting the HDMI adapter, which seems to be the case with most roms (unless they are touchwiz based).

 

[mattopotamus]

So if this rumor is true, would it actually be like the nexus device and get updates? If so, then I would be all over it; However, if it was still subject to the carriers and manufactures for updates I would pass.

 

[0dev]

So if this rumor is true, would it actually be like the nexus device and get updates? If so, then I would be all over it; However, if it was still subject to the carriers and manufactures for updates I would pass.

I imagine it'd be sold through the Play Store unlocked if it's a "Google Edition." And, well, it's a Google phone. So it should get updates straight from Google.

 

[mattopotamus]

I imagine it'd be sold through the Play Store unlocked if it's a "Google Edition." And, well, it's a Google phone. So it should get updates straight from Google.

That would be nuts. I would pay $599 for "that" phone!

 

[MRU]

Not sure if this has been posted before

What are peoples views on this, would this now persuade you to get an S4 if this is true

http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-s4-google-edition-209440/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1582477/

Wont happen, and if does it wont be a 'galaxy S4'. Like I say - doing so would invalidate any reason for the Nexus brand.

Also further reflection, can you imagine the headaches of retail / carrier stores if they were to sell two S4's with different OS's. It would just be confusing for the customer, unless they decide it can only be ordered via the play store.

 

[JaySoul]

Very interesting rumour - Samsung have clearly been stung by the lukewarm reception to their "bloatware" and such.

Although I'd agree about the camera issue, I'd be VERY keen on this - glad I've waited thus far... Let's see!

 

[paulsalter]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1582477/

Wont happen, and if does it wont be a 'galaxy S4'. Like I say - doing so would invalidate any reason for the Nexus brand.

Also further reflection, can you imagine the headaches of retail / carrier stores if they were to sell two S4's with different OS's. It would just be confusing for the customer, unless they decide it can only be ordered via the play store.

oops hadn't seen another thread talking about this

I agree about confusion

If this came out there might be no reason for the Nexus brand, but does this affect Google much, they are still getting a pure Android device on the market (If Samsung pure Android sells more than the Nexus brand is this better? would a closer Google/Samsung device like this make more money for Google)

Could cause confusion in stores, but they could be trying this to see how the market takes to it (Samsung might be seeing how this works before bringing out their own OS)

IMO, if it's Play store only it won't sell that well

Interesting to read, hopefully hear soon if it is just a rumour

 

[0dev]

If this does happen it'll be limited production for a Play Store only release IMO.

 

[mattopotamus]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1582477/

Wont happen, and if does it wont be a 'galaxy S4'. Like I say - doing so would invalidate any reason for the Nexus brand.

Also further reflection, can you imagine the headaches of retail / carrier stores if they were to sell two S4's with different OS's. It would just be confusing for the customer, unless they decide it can only be ordered via the play store.

I would think that the google version would only be available through the play store. That means that most customers would not even know about it

 

[paulsalter]

If this is only on the Play store, woudn't that mean it's unlocked for any carrier?

from some of the rumours on this

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition will launch in June on T-Mobile, or so say the rumors. We have our fingers crossed, but it's still an unlikely thing to happen.

http://www.gsmarena.com/is_samsung_working_on_a_stock_android_version_of_the_galaxy_s4-news-6040.php

 

[0dev]

If this is only on the Play store, woudn't that mean it's unlocked for any carrier?

from some of the rumours on this

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition will launch in June on T-Mobile, or so say the rumors. We have our fingers crossed, but it's still an unlikely thing to happen.

http://www.gsmarena.com/is_samsung_working_on_a_stock_android_version_of_the_galaxy_s4-news-6040.php

The link in the OP says it will work on T-Mobile's bands. I take that to mean it won't work properly with 3G and 4G on AT&T and whatever other GSM networks you have over in the US? I know they all use different bands.

 

[paulsalter]

The link in the OP says it will work on T-Mobile's bands. I take that to mean it won't work properly with 3G and 4G on AT&T and whatever other GSM networks you have over in the US? I know they all use different bands.

My knowledge of how the US mobile networks operate is very limited

I was assuming it was similar to T-Mobile in the UK, just another operator

 

[0dev]

My knowledge of how the US mobile networks operate is very limited

I was assuming it was similar to T-Mobile in the UK, just another operator

We're lucky in the UK. Trust me, the US is terrible with their phone situation. Everything runs on different frequencies, nothing is compatible with each other, some are CDMA so they don't even take SIM cards, and data costs a billion zillion dollars a month and it's still not unlimited

 

[Tig Bitties]

If this is true, you don't need to actually by this "Google Edition", I am sure a ported ROM will be made available rather quickly for the regular S4's.

But I would still like to see this released, is good to spread the Vanilla Android love around to the masses.

 

[JaySoul]

We're lucky in the UK. Trust me, the US is terrible with their phone situation. Everything runs on different frequencies, nothing is compatible with each other, some are CDMA so they don't even take SIM cards, and data costs a billion zillion dollars a month and it's still not unlimited

Amen to that!!

 

[0dev]

Amen to that!!

Three FTW! Can't wait until I get my free update to unlimited LTE on their network

Just to gloat a little to our American friends, here's my data usage for the past four months (when I last restored the phone fresh):

 

[Tig Bitties]

We're lucky in the UK. Trust me, the US is terrible with their phone situation. Everything runs on different frequencies, nothing is compatible with each other, some are CDMA so they don't even take SIM cards, and data costs a billion zillion dollars a month and it's still not unlimited

Yes sir, it is a raping and hostage situation here with the U.S. phone carriers.

****king "Text" plan for $20/Month Just to get unlimited texts the carriers charge an extra fee for that, beyond the minutes and data fee plans.

And I love the word "Unlimited" LOL, unlimited with an * next to it at bottom of the contract, saying data limits of 2GB/Month, or some BS.

 

[skratch77]

Three FTW! Can't wait until I get my free update to unlimited LTE on their network

Just to gloat a little to our American friends, here's my data usage for the past four months (when I last restored the phone fresh):

A lot of us american friends are grandfatherd into unlimited 4g plans and have unlimited 4g that is faster then your home internet lol.

We have 5 lines with 4 of them unlimited on our family plan and pay 250 a month for all of them.

I did 17gb last billing cycle and don't have any throttling on my Verizon unlimited plan

 

[0dev]

A lot of us american friends are grandfatherd into unlimited 4g plans and have unlimited 4g that is faster then your home internet lol.

We have 5 lines with 4 of them unlimited on our family plan and pay 250 a month for all of them.

I did 17gb last billing cycle and don't have any throttling on my Verizon unlimited plan

Yeah but you have to do all these hacks just to keep your grandfathered plans. You can walk into any shop here and walk out with unlimited data, unlimited texts, and a few hundred minutes for £15 a month, and that's just for prepaid.

And DC-HSPDA on Three (that's out right now) has speeds of 30Mbps in some places, while the LTE network that's coming in just a few months will have over 60Mbps, and it will be using the exact same cheap plans as the 3G network.

 

[skratch77]

Yeah but you have to do all these hacks just to keep your grandfathered plans. You can walk into any shop here and walk out with unlimited data, unlimited texts, and a few hundred minutes for £15 a month, and that's just for prepaid.

And DC-HSPDA on Three (that's out right now) has speeds of 15Mbps in some places, while the LTE network that's coming in just a few months will have around (and potentially over) 20Mbps, and it will be using the exact same cheap plans as the 3G network.

What hacks do we have to do? We can either pay full price for the phone and swap our old dim into it or transfer an upgrade to a line that is on a 2gb plan and then upgrade that line to get the phone subsidised like I just did to get my gs4 ordered.

I had an upgrade and moved my upgrade to my fathers line that is a 2gb line and he will just give me the phone when it comes in.how is that a hack?

I hit over 50mb on my lte here also

 

[jrswizzle]

Yeah but you have to do all these hacks just to keep your grandfathered plans. You can walk into any shop here and walk out with unlimited data, unlimited texts, and a few hundred minutes for £15 a month, and that's just for prepaid.

And DC-HSPDA on Three (that's out right now) has speeds of 15Mbps in some places, while the LTE network that's coming in just a few months will have around (and potentially over) 20Mbps, and it will be using the exact same cheap plans as the 3G network.

Where are you located Odev? I'll be headed to Italy next weekend and am trying to figure out the best prepaid option for my Nexus 4. Heard 3 was one of the best.

 

[0dev]

What hacks do we have to do? We can either pay full price for the phone and swap our old dim into it or transfer an upgrade to a line that is on a 2gb plan and then upgrade that line to get the phone subsidised like I just did to get my gs4 ordered.

I had an upgrade and moved my upgrade to my fathers line that is a 2gb line and he will just give me the phone when it comes in.how is that a hack?

I hit over 50mb on my lte here also

That sounds like a hack to me man...

Right now we have EE with LTE speeds of up to 120Mbps. There are people already getting 60Mbps on LTE in some places. On DC-HSPDA people are getting 30Mbps.

I underestimated the speeds in that last post, I'll go edit it now...