GS4 with stock Android

[Fernandez21]

I don't get why people are having a hard time with the price on this phone. It's only $10 more than the at&t version, and you get pure android, no bloat, no touchwiz. If I hadn't already bought the HTC One, I would probably be buying this up.

I hope they end up doing the same thing with the Note 3.

 

[irDigital0l]

Just get the regular gs4 on Verizon and wait for someone to dump the Odin image of the Google gs4 and flash it on the Verizon one.

It will be a simple flash depending if or how fast the boot loader is cracked on the Verizon gs4

I have no idea what your talking about.

Honestly when I pay several hundred dollars for a smartphone, I expect it to just work without me having to do stuff to it.

Why couldn't Google just release a stock GS4 on Verizon?

Is it because Verizon uses CDMA band?

 

[strausd]

If Google managed to offer this under a carrier subsidy, I would be all over this.

 

[lordofthereef]

I

I also don't fully buy the whole "it's a big country so we need to charge more" argument. The fact it's a big country means they have more subscribers and therefore more revenue by default. Also if T-Mobile can offer better value why can't the rest of them?

While I share your sentiment, to a point, what many people don't realize, including those that live in the United states, is just how much land is largely unpopulated. Drive through the midwest and you see a bunch of farms. Drive through the rockies and you see a bunch of untouched wilderness. All the while, you STILL have reception. Almost anywhere you go, where there is a major highway/interstate, you get reception with AT&T and Verizon. So there are vast amounts of land that have towers that very few people are using. The locations are remote enough that any sort of work on these towers requires quite a commute for technicians. So it's not quite as simple as "there are more users therefor more revenue". I don't know the numbers. And I certainly believe there is some abuse going on. One of the things I will never understand is why I am required to have a data plan with a smartphone that I didn't subsidize or even buy from the specific carrier (for example, a Nexus 4), yet all of the major carriers require it. But I don't think that, even with regulation, we would see prices drop down to what we see in Europe. I just don't think that is a reasonable expectation. If you look at Tmobile USA, their current plans are probably the most reasonable one could hope for. I feel a lot of what allows them to do this is their small footprint, but free roaming on AT&T due to a failed acquisition agreement.

 

[jeffe]

But the problem with that theory is Google will most likely put some kind of differentiator in the phone. They know there is a large Dev community that will get an image of the phone on release day and have that image in the wild in a matter of hours. So then potentially any/every S4 could become a straight Google GS4. They would not want that and Samsung would not either.....

Samsung's phone are some of the easiest phones to hack. You can pull off TouchWiz and install a stock-like AOSP ROM on most of Samsung's phones in a matters of minutes as it is.

I'm most interested in whether we'll be able to compile AOSP for the GS4 from source.

 

[lordofthereef]

I don't get why people are having a hard time with the price on this phone. It's only $10 more than the at&t version, and you get pure android, no bloat, no touchwiz. If I hadn't already bought the HTC One, I would probably be buying this up.

I hope they end up doing the same thing with the Note 3.

Google gave us a taste of "affordable" (we can say cheap or inexpensive too, if we want) tablets and phones. For all intents and purposes, this is the Nexus 4 successor. At twice the retail, it's a bit of a bite. What's especially odd is that, in theory, this phone should cost less for Samsung to put into our hands as there should have been significantly less R&D up to this point, and should be virtually none continued once the phone is launched (since updates will be handled by Google). I see your point though. On one hand we are getting exactly what we wanted (and all Google device with flagship quality hardware). On the other hand, this likely will not come with a subsidy, and with most US carriers, not using a subsidy means wasting your upgrade as your monthly rates won't drop, regardless, so people might feel that it's best to just wait for rom dumps and install it on their subsidized phones. In short, we want to have our cake and eat it too!

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But the problem with that theory is Google will most likely put some kind of differentiator in the phone. They know there is a large Dev community that will get an image of the phone on release day and have that image in the wild in a matter of hours. So then potentially any/every S4 could become a straight Google GS4. They would not want that and Samsung would not either.....

I honestly don't think Google would mind if this happened at all. After all, they are simply giving away Android to anyone who wants to use it. More power to you if you figure out how to put it in it's stock form on a device that "wasn't supposed to get it". Samsung, on the other hand, would likely not want this. But who knows. Maybe they would. Seems the MSRP is exactly the same. Samsung is likely profiting about the same from the sale of either handset.

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Which kinda sucks....I mean, doesn't it seem like Google is saying "F U" to all the other OEMs?

Another reason why I don't get this move.....excited about it, but still intrigued by the reasons and implications.

We really have no idea whether Google approached any of the other OEMs or not. I choose to see it a slightly different way. If the sales of this device are a success, it might prompt those other OEMs to launch their flagships with our Android as well.

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Two years ago? I recall you having serious reservations (I'm putting that very politely) about Samsung hardware two years ago. All that stuff about terrible pentile screens, cheap plastic, etc.

If you mean literally this exact phone should've been released two years ago, well, yeah... technology just wasn't like that two years ago so that's an impossible request to fulfill.

LOL! I was actually wondering if this was the same guy I was remembering. Oh well, based on some of his other responses, it seems like he has come to his senses.

 

[Technarchy]

Two years ago? I recall you having serious reservations (I'm putting that very politely) about Samsung hardware two years ago. All that stuff about terrible pentile screens, cheap plastic, etc.

If you mean literally this exact phone should've been released two years ago, well, yeah... technology just wasn't like that two years ago so that's an impossible request to fulfill.

My reasons for dumping android two years ago didn't really pertain to screens or plastics. Though, I still think the GS3 screen is horrible, and dim, while the GS4 screen is sharp and still dim with less noticeable to the naked eye pentile artifacts like the GS3.

The main reasons I dumped android were:

-inability to get flagship hardware in a pure google or Nexus Phone.
-Lack of updates in a timely fashion
-Horrible support
-Awful battery life
-Buggy lag city UI
-dreadful app support

Time, along with a Google GS4 and Jelly Bean have addressed many of these issues to the extent that the GGS4 is something worth considering IMHO, especially when Apple is asleep at the wheel during the "S" year.

I started a thread about the main reasons dumped android in June of last year. No where were screens, samsung, or plastic factored in the decision in a major way.

 

[ChrisTX]

After returning my GS4, I had decided I was going to wait for the Note3. But now things have changed. I'll be ordering this device day 1! As someone that went back and forth between a Nexus 4, and a GS3 a lot this is my perfect device. Even better that it launches a few days after my birthday too!

 

[MRU]

If Google managed to offer this under a carrier subsidy, I would be all over this.

Yeah I agree and I bet that's also the primary reason Samsung won't ever go for that.

 

[mattopotamus]

I don't get why people are having a hard time with the price on this phone. It's only $10 more than the at&t version, and you get pure android, no bloat, no touchwiz. If I hadn't already bought the HTC One, I would probably be buying this up.

I hope they end up doing the same thing with the Note 3.

I don't think they would do it with the note line since the s-pen features rely on touchwiz. Disabling touchwiz would make the note useless from that stand point.

 

[adder7712]

If Google managed to offer this under a carrier subsidy, I would be all over this.

But that would impact the sales of the existing S4.

 

[onthecouchagain]

My reasons for dumping android two years ago didn't really pertain to screens or plastics. Though, I still think the GS3 screen is horrible, and dim, while the GS4 screen is sharp and still dim with less noticeable to the naked eye pentile artifacts like the GS3.

The main reasons I dumped android were:

-inability to get flagship hardware in a pure google or Nexus Phone.
-Lack of updates in a timely fashion
-Horrible support
-Awful battery life
-Buggy lag city UI
-dreadful app support

Time, along with a Google GS4 and Jelly Bean have addressed many of these issues to the extent that the GGS4 is something worth considering IMHO, especially when Apple is asleep at the wheel during the "S" year.

I started a thread about the main reasons dumped android in June of last year. No where were screens, samsung, or plastic factored in the decision in a major way.

Fair enough. I must have remembered wrong.

The GS4 Google Version really is something special. Making stock Android readily more available to users is a good direction from Google.

 

[mattopotamus]

Fair enough. I must have remembered wrong.

The GS4 Google Version really is something special. Making stock Android readily more available to users is a good direction from Google.

I don't think it makes it more available. The people who buy the nexus are the people who will buy the GS4 google....and in reality it will be a much smaller group since it is double the price. Hopefully this time goes better than November last year when ordering from google.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I don't think it makes it more available. The people who buy the nexus are the people who will buy the GS4 google....and in reality it will be a much smaller group since it is double the price. Hopefully this time goes better than November last year when ordering from google.

What I mean when I say more available is that there's another option now if you want stock Android and direct Google updates. Who knows how well it will sell but the more Google proliferates stock Android, the better. How many have said "If only it weren't for TouchWiz, I'd be all over the S4"? In general, how many people have been asking for OEM hardware to be launched with stock Android. This is becoming a reality and hopefully will continue to with other OEMs.

As I said before in the "Google I/O" thread, imagine if each major OEM releases a Google Version of their annual flagship, sold by Google themselves with direct updates. That'd be insane. The more choices we get, the better.

100% agree with your statement about their launch-skillz. Hope it's gotten better, especially since I am really interested in this year's Nexus 7 and may want to be an early adopter. Getting the Nexus 4 last year was a nightmare.

 

[mattopotamus]

What I mean when I say more available is that there's another option now if you want stock Android and direct Google updates. Who knows how well it will sell but the more Google proliferates stock Android, the better. How many have said "If only it weren't for TouchWiz, I'd be all over the S4"? In general, how many people have been asking for OEM hardware to be launched with stock Android. This is becoming a reality and hopefully will continue to with other OEMs.

As I said before in the "Google I/O" thread, imagine if each major OEM releases a Google Version of their annual flagship, sold by Google themselves with direct updates. That'd be insane. The more choices we get, the better.

100% agree with your statement about their launch-skillz. Hope it's gotten better, especially since I am really interested in this year's Nexus 7 and may want to be an early adopter. Getting the Nexus 4 last year was a nightmare.

gotcha. I agree with everything you just said.

 

[daveathall]

If these came to the UK I would be probably sell my SGS4 and Nexus 4 and buy one with the proceeds.

 

[ChrisTX]

If these came to the UK I would be probably sell my SGS4 and Nexus 4 and buy one with the proceeds.

I plan to sell my GS3, and Nexus 4, and do the same! This is the device I've been waiting for! I owned the GS4 for a week but couldn't accept all of the bloatware, and sluggishness. Sounds like Google was listening!

 

[MRU]

I plan to sell my GS3, and Nexus 4, and do the same! This is the device I've been waiting for! I owned the GS4 for a week but couldn't accept all of the bloatware, and sluggishness. Sounds like Google was listening!

must admit if the S4 google edition was available here, id be tempted to do the same. But unlikely it will ever be, can't even get the nexus 4 here in Ireland.

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If these came to the UK I would be probably sell my SGS4 and Nexus 4 and buy one with the proceeds.

We can dream...

 

[ChrisTX]

yeah man great device. but i wont be able to buy it as i was too dumb to order the original one. this one's better!

Not dumb at all. The OG GS4 is an excellent device, and you made a wise choice. No one could have see a GS4 Nexus coming, I know I didn't. I would have kept mine, but felt it was too close to the GS3, and I didn't want to burn my upgrade just yet.

must admit if the S4 google edition was available here, id be tempted to do the same. But unlikely it will ever be, can't even get the nexus 4 here in Ireland.

Maybe check ebay? I think this device will ultimately satisfy my smartphone needs for a while, and hopefully keep me from buying so many smartphones However, I hope you find a way to get one of these in Ireland!

 

[MRU]

Not dumb at all. The OG GS4 is an excellent device, and you made a wise choice. No one could have see a GS4 Nexus coming, I know I didn't. I would have kept mine, but felt it was too close to the GS3, and I didn't burn my upgrade just yet.


Maybe check ebay? I think this device will ultimately satisfy my smartphone needs for a while, and hopefully keep me from buying so many smartphones However, I hope you find a way to get one of these in Ireland!

I just rang Google offices in Dublin. After getting through to the wrong person, I was redirected and a nice woman told me that it is unlikely it would ever be available to order in Ireland, but she took my details and said when / if it was available they would contact me.

 

[skratch77]

I have no idea what your talking about.

Honestly when I pay several hundred dollars for a smartphone, I expect it to just work without me having to do stuff to it.

Why couldn't Google just release a stock GS4 on Verizon?

Is it because Verizon uses CDMA band?

Its 100% because of CDMA and its locked down Verizon bs

And if you have no idea what im talking about maybe its not a good idea for your first android phone to be a nexus experience its not geared toward you and you would be better off with the reg gs4.the Google version will have none of the features the reg one has like air view and 2 apps at the same time.

People will build roms with certain features taken from touchwiz and customise the phone the way they want it

 

[2298754]

But that would impact the sales of the existing S4.

Not really. Either way Samsung is making money

I think putting a Nexus device under a carrier is the worst thing you can do. The VZW Galaxy Nexus gets updates months after the unbranded unlocked model. Same with the Sprint version, etc. They should keep it off a carrier.

 

[MRU]

Not really. Either way Samsung is making money
.

I think if both were available in store and the majority of users went for the stock android version over touchwiz - it would be very embarrassing for Samsung regarding it's own software.

That's why it wont be sold by carriers or other retail outlets.

If however it is successful in it's own way on google play store , it may make samsung re-think about 'over-bloating' it's own software in future - and that surly is a good thing.

 

[jrswizzle]

I'm assuming, in addition to AT&T and T-Mobile, the Google GS4 will work with other GSM networks around the world correct?

 

[MRU]

I'm assuming, in addition to AT&T and T-Mobile, the Google GS4 will work with other GSM networks around the world correct?

Yeah not sure until they reveal full specs and spectrums of LTE bands it supports.