Nexus 4 Review by an iPhone Fanboy

[onthecouchagain]

@Straus... I'll just reply generally and maybe it'll help...

There are probably "Safe Driving" apps out there on the Play Store. I've seen some. Where the app basically gives you enlarged icons, easier access to things you need, etc. which should help with driving. Totally understand you want to be safe. Maybe you can find a Driving app that incorporates faster access to Google Now.

Regarding Siri, you can activate Siri even when the phone is locked? Just curious.

Anyway, it sounds like it's just something you'll have to adjust to. Be safe on the road.

In general, regarding your review, it sounds like the hiccups you're having are all issues of adjustment, especially coming from being a dedicated iOS user. It's awesome you're giving it a chance. I think over time, you'll adjust very well to all Android's little quirks.

And best of luck with that home button. Something is certainly amiss...

EDIT: Forgot to mention, toggles will solve your vibrate/sound problem. I think you know that already. You don't get to do it physically, but you'll also get to toggle many other things (almost anything that can be turned on and off). Worth the tradeoff, me thinks. =]

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Not for me. The physical switch has downsides as well: it can be switched accidentally, meaning you won't know the phone is now silent--or the reverse. I have had that happen many times with my iPhone.

It also can and does break. Just google iphone silent switch repair. The home button too can wear out, or become unreliable over time (had to replace mine on my old iPhone 4).

I like that my Nexus 4 shows me in the status bar whether the phone is on silent or vibrate. Even though there is little chance it can be triggered by accident sitting in my pocket, there are times where I forget to turn the ringer back on.

For it was not hard to get used to pressing the power button and tapping mute/vibrate/on instead of reaching for the switch.



Michael

Michael hits the nail on the head on every point. +1

 

[strausd]

If you have headphones with inline controls you can press and hold the center button to bring up Google now and it will automatically start listening.

Thats cool, but doesn't help for most of the people who aren't wearing headphones 24/7.

@Straus... I'll just reply generally and maybe it'll help...

There are probably "Safe Driving" apps out there on the Play Store. I've seen some. Where the app basically gives you enlarged icons, easier access to things you need, etc. which should help with driving. Totally understand you want to be safe. Maybe you can find a Driving app that incorporates faster access to Google Now.

Now you are just trying to force a round about way to what should be available stock.

Regarding Siri, you can activate Siri even when the phone is locked? Just curious.

Ya, just hold down the home button and start talkin'!

EDIT: Forgot to mention, toggles will solve your vibrate/sound problem. I think you know that already. You don't get to do it physically, but you'll also get to toggle many other things (almost anything that can be turned on and off). Worth the tradeoff, me thinks. =]

Like I mentioned, I use power toggles, and it is great. But there are times where I would like to know that my phone is on silent without having to turn the screen on.

 

[dojoman]

AT&T using the same SIM from my 4S. Got 6 Mb/s the other day and I'm in Dallas. Would like to have LTE though. Glad this was unlocked so I can upgrade next year through AT&T. Might go for a GN3 or GS4 when they come out

Is 6MB/s the best possible you can achieve or it was just about average 6 Mb/s? I'm interested in this device but lack of LTE really was a deal breaker for me but LTE coverage can be kind of a hit or miss anyway so if I can get around 7-8 Mb/s consistently I'd be happy.

 

[smellysox8]

Car Home Ultra

 

[strausd]

Is 6MB/s the best possible you can achieve or it was just about average 6 Mb/s? I'm interested in this device but lack of LTE really was a deal breaker for me but LTE coverage can be kind of a hit or miss anyway so if I can get around 7-8 Mb/s consistently I'd be happy.

Unfortunately, 6MB was the best. On average on AT&Ts HSPA+ in Carrollton, north of Dallas, I average 4-5. LTE in this area is on average over 20. So if you want good speed over cellular, LTE is the way to go. For that, I think I may go with the GS4 when it comes out next semester.

 

[Tinmania]

Ya, just hold down the home button and start talkin'!

My biggest issue with Siri, and this is from someone likes it, is that I never felt I could rely on it. Too many times she came back with the ol', "I'm very sorry but I can't help you right now..." after waiting 10 seconds or so. Hated that and it eroded my confidence in it. Ironically enough the very last day of using my 4S as my phone siri was down half the day.




Michael

 

[Tinmania]

One thing that definitely surprised me was the play store. Not just the number of apps, of which there are more than I had assumed. But the quality of the play store app: blows away the Apple app store in my opinion. More so now since Apple went with that absurd one app at a time thing when searching. Also it shows reviews better than the app store--another area where the app store has degraded in my opinion. Why was the app store better on iOS 3.x than 6.x? It's bad enough iOS is slow to advance on new features, but to make existing things worse is insulting.

Another thing I like about the play store is how well it works in a browser on a mac or pc. I was pleasantly surprised to see how I can actually install apps from a browser. Apple kinda has a web version of its app store but it lives in a bizarre universe that kicks you out of it and into iTunes should you actually want something. God forbid I want to copy a review from iTunes to the clipboard... no can do.

Finally, there is the 15 minute window where an app can be refunded, no questions asked. Wish it was a little longer but still wonderful!




Michael

 

[smellysox8]

I concur. I love installing apps from my web browser.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

One thing that definitely surprised me was the play store. Not just the number of apps, of which there are more than I had assumed. But the quality of the play store app: blows away the Apple app store in my opinion. More so now since Apple went with that absurd one app at a time thing when searching. Also it shows reviews better than the app store--another area where the app store has degraded in my opinion. Why was the app store better on iOS 3.x than 6.x? It's bad enough iOS is slow to advance on new features, but to make existing things worse is insulting.

Another thing I like about the play store is how well it works in a browser on a mac or pc. I was pleasantly surprised to see how I can actually install apps from a browser. Apple kinda has a web version of its app store but it lives in a bizarre universe that kicks you out of it and into iTunes should you actually want something. God forbid I want to copy a review from iTunes to the clipboard... no can do.

Finally, there is the 15 minute window where an app can be refunded, no questions asked. Wish it was a little long but still wonderful!




Michael

So true. They did the Play Store right.

Another thing is that you can use more than one account to install or sync apps on your phone\device, which has it's benefits.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Now you are just trying to force a round about way to what should be available stock.

100% with you. I can understand why the voice isn't activated right away when you swipe up from the home button -- you wouldn't want noise to interfere with your typing if you were keying something in -- but it should definitely be an option to turn "instant voice" on/off for Google Now.

I'd suggest it to Google: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/list

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One thing that definitely surprised me was the play store. Not just the number of apps, of which there are more than I had assumed. But the quality of the play store app: blows away the Apple app store in my opinion. More so now since Apple went with that absurd one app at a time thing when searching. Also it shows reviews better than the app store--another area where the app store has degraded in my opinion. Why was the app store better on iOS 3.x than 6.x? It's bad enough iOS is slow to advance on new features, but to make existing things worse is insulting.

Another thing I like about the play store is how well it works in a browser on a mac or pc. I was pleasantly surprised to see how I can actually install apps from a browser. Apple kinda has a web version of its app store but it lives in a bizarre universe that kicks you out of it and into iTunes should you actually want something. God forbid I want to copy a review from iTunes to the clipboard... no can do.

Finally, there is the 15 minute window where an app can be refunded, no questions asked. Wish it was a little long but still wonderful!




Michael

I find the Play Store easier to navigate than the App Store. Especially the Play Store website.

 

[Mac-Rumours]

Oh never heard of it ! Thanks for the tip

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ordered my nexus 4 with a US vpn and used my florida mailbox

Sorry to be slightly off topic but please tell us more about the VPN and mailbox services you used.

 

[strausd]

My biggest issue with Siri, and this is from someone likes it, is that I never felt I could rely on it. Too many times she came back with the ol', "I'm very sorry but I can't help you right now..." after waiting 10 seconds or so. Hated that and it eroded my confidence in it. Ironically enough the very last day of using my 4S as my phone siri was down half the day.




Michael

Man that sucks. I tried to send a text in the car the other day through Google now and I had to repeat myself 3 times to get it to work. But Google now is still very good. But Siri just has a leg up for the things I do most. But considering the total amount of time I spend using voice command, this really isn't too big of a deal to me. I still love me Nexus 4

 

[Switchback666]

Sorry to be slightly off topic but please tell us more about the VPN and mailbox services you used.

I use package forward company with delivery address on florida they then re-send to my country, have to use a vpn or proxy/socks5 in order to acese google play store (for devices) if your country is not officially supported.

 

[Tinmania]

Man that sucks. I tried to send a text in the car the other day through Google now and I had to repeat myself 3 times to get it to work. But Google now is still very good. But Siri just has a leg up for the things I do most. But considering the total amount of time I spend using voice command, this really isn't too big of a deal to me. I still love me Nexus 4

That is odd since google now recognizes me the same if not better than Siri. And it is generally faster (when both are working). Even on my iPhone 4S the Google search app is faster than Siri at recognizing me.

It's hard for me to use Siri now due to the black hole it goes into while waiting. Not really even Siri per se, but the voice recognition system itself. When dictating a long message I don't see anything till everything I said is transmitted to the servers and the response returned. Google's displays my words as I say them.

But what really annoys me about Siri, and iOS's voice recognition, is that it is dead in the water without an Internet connection. I can turn on airplane mode on my Nexus 4 and it still recognizes me. Plus it can dial numbers should I be in a remote area with voice coverage but no data. That happens out here in the desert still, albeit less and less so. (Still have places with just EDGE though, which slows down Siri tremendously for me.)




Michael

 

[aerok]

Finally, there is the 15 minute window where an app can be refunded, no questions asked. Wish it was a little longer but still wonderful!




Michael

I miss the good old days where the refund window was 24 hours

 

[Tinmania]

I miss the good old days where the refund window was 24 hours

Dang I would too! Surely there is a better compromise than 15 minutes.... but better than nothing. I have already used it several times.



Michael

 

[reefoid]

Another thing is that you can use more than one account to install or sync apps on your phone\device, which has it's benefits.

Yeah, that's something I make use of. I have one account for my works apps, another for my personal apps, and another account that I have on both mine and my son's phone so any apps we both want, I purchase once and we can use it on both phones.

 

[Mac-Rumours]

I use package forward company with delivery address on florida they then re-send to my country, have to use a vpn or proxy/socks5 in order to acese google play store (for devices) if your country is not officially supported.

Which companies do you use / recommend?

 

[mcman77]

Great review, enjoyed reading it. Wish now you got a GS3 / GN2 to compare lol.

Google Now & Siri:
The thing is, Google Now requires at least some input on the touch screen. This means, I have to take my eyes off the road.

Just say "Google" and it should be the same as pressing the button.

 

[hyteckit]

Another problem with Google Now and s-voice on Android when driving with my radio on and phone connected to my car system through bluetooth.

With Siri activate, it takes over my bluetooth audio and prompts me audibly. All the sound is pipe through my car audio system. I don't have to take my eyes off the road. It's similar to with I receive a call and I just press answer call button on my steering wheel. The radio goes silent and my phone takes over the audio system using bluetooth.


With Google Now or S-voice activate, the radio continues to play through the sound system. All the audio from my phone continues to only play through my phone making Google Now or s-voice pretty much useless. I'm either force to turn off my radio or switch the bluetooth mode.

 

[ChazUK]

Another problem with Google Now and s-voice on Android when driving with my radio on and phone connected to my car system through bluetooth.

With Siri activate, it takes over my bluetooth audio and prompts me audibly. All the sound is pipe through my car audio system. I don't have to take my eyes off the road. It's similar to with I receive a call and I just press answer call button on my steering wheel. The radio goes silent and my phone takes over the audio system using bluetooth.


With Google Now or S-voice activate, the radio continues to play through the sound system. All the audio from my phone continues to only play through my phone making Google Now or s-voice pretty much useless. I'm either force to turn off my radio or switch the bluetooth mode.

You say "on android" but on my nexus, all background audio is dimmed down and Google now takes focus over Bluetooth audio.

The same thing happens on my nexus 7 and my old galaxy nexus.

Yours must be a Samsung issue, not android.

 

[strausd]

Great review, enjoyed reading it. Wish now you got a GS3 / GN2 to compare lol.



Just say "Google" and it should be the same as pressing the button.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1498227/

 

[ReanimationN]

Not for me. The physical switch has downsides as well: it can be switched accidentally, meaning you won't know the phone is now silent--or the reverse. I have had that happen many times with my iPhone.

But it's so easy to overcome that, thanks to the ability to feel where the switch is without even needing to look at the phone. I use this all the time- I often walk into places where a phone isn't allowed, or will be looked down upon, so having the physical silent switch is really handy, as I can reach in and flip it to silent without my phone leaving my pocket. You can't do that on a phone with a soft silent switch.

It also can and does break. Just google iphone silent switch repair. The home button too can wear out, or become unreliable over time (had to replace mine on my old iPhone 4).

Sure it can break, but that's in a minority of cases. I'd rather take the tiny chance of it breaking in exchange for its functionality, which I regularly use.
All 4 of my SNES controllers from nearly 20 years ago still work perfectly, physical buttons and switches are perfectly capable of working for a long, long time.

 

[Switchback666]

Which companies do you use / recommend?

Well the only company i use is transexpress, they work in conjuction with a local company here but im afraid that transexpress only offer the service to latin america and south america country but im not 100% sure.

 

[dalbir4444]

But it's so easy to overcome that, thanks to the ability to feel where the switch is without even needing to look at the phone. I use this all the time- I often walk into places where a phone isn't allowed, or will be looked down upon, so having the physical silent switch is really handy, as I can reach in and flip it to silent without my phone leaving my pocket. You can't do that on a phone with a soft silent switch.


Sure it can break, but that's in a minority of cases. I'd rather take the tiny chance of it breaking in exchange for its functionality, which I regularly use.
All 4 of my SNES controllers from nearly 20 years ago still work perfectly, physical buttons and switches are perfectly capable of working for a long, long time.

Ah, SNES. The good old days. Do you still play games on it?