Google Galaxy Nexus

Dragooon

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Google Galaxy Nexus
« on October 24th, 2011, 08:41 AM »
Anybody as interested in this phone as I am? I'm looking to upgrade my Galaxy S to this, would be my first Nexus phone. Also runs Android 4.0(Ice cream sandwich) which is looking to be a great OS.


http://google.com/nexus
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DarkLite

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #1, on October 24th, 2011, 11:10 AM »
I'm waiting for some concrete price info in the UK before I decide whether to get it. Looks absolutely amazing though :D

MultiformeIngegno

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Dragooon

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #3, on October 24th, 2011, 07:42 PM »
Must say, that is a very objective post. What don't you like about it and what do you like?

Arantor

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #4, on October 24th, 2011, 08:00 PM »
I don't like Android as a development target. Some of the different markets have interesting approaches like not properly indicating whether a given device can run an app (though it's the ecosystem, not the OS itself)

Primarily, though, I don't like the fact that the device ecosystem is so fragmented, that the above limitation becomes quite significant - while for iOS the number of hardware models is pretty slim all told, there are quite literally hundreds of models out there for Android, and it's almost as bad as Windows for compatibility.

The other matter is how vendors have a really bad habit of not shipping updates to Android, there are plenty of devices that can run later Android versions yet the operator hasn't provided updates. While, theoretically, users can root their device to get updates, they shouldn't have to do so and the fact that the OS encourages this is bad to me.
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MultiformeIngegno

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #5, on October 24th, 2011, 08:20 PM »
I think that Android is the "Windows" of phones. I don't like the fact that every vendor can customize it and slow it down with tons of shitty widgets and other crap, UI is not consistent, flash player is a pain in the arse, marketplace is not safe and to update your phone you have to be an advanced user (and you have to be lucky that your vendor provides you the update!!).

I like iOS.. and if I need to choose an alternative I'd go for Windows Phone 7. Microsoft seems to have took the right way with consistent ui, a semi-closed environment and so on.

Dragooon

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #6, on October 24th, 2011, 09:51 PM »
Fair enough, I also use plenty of iOS and I like it more from a developer's point of view. But I like android for phones to be better, it's more customizable, a thing which I really like. Plus with Android 4 they are really giving the UI a face lift as an attempt to bring Android up to speed, something I hope pans out.

Arantor

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #7, on October 24th, 2011, 10:04 PM »
Freedom for one group implies constrictions on others, user freedom does curb developer freedom and vice versa...

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Dragooon

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #9, on October 24th, 2011, 10:12 PM »
That's not what the topic was about, plus I don't got a Mac so I can't really "enjoy" iPhone development.

Dismal Shadow

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Arantor

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #11, on October 24th, 2011, 10:16 PM »
Quote from Dragooon on October 24th, 2011, 10:12 PM
That's not what the topic was about, plus I don't got a Mac so I can't really "enjoy" iPhone development.
I know... My point was that if you make it more customisable for the user, it's harder for app devs to make things actually work properly, which is the source of a good many comments I've heard about poor compatibility on Android.

Dragooon

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #13, on October 25th, 2011, 01:44 AM »
Quote from MultiformeIngegno on October 24th, 2011, 08:20 PM
I think that Android is the "Windows" of phones. I don't like the fact that every vendor can customize it and slow it down with tons of shitty widgets and other crap...
The Galaxy Nexus is straight from Google so it doesn't have that problem with crapware, AFAIK.

As for the phone I have the Nexus S right now, and it feels amazing in my hands. From the looks of it the Galaxy Nexus has the same kind of form factor which I'm very excited about. I'm also glad that they're doing away with the Search button on the bottom. That thing was useless.

One more thing.
Quote from MultiformeIngegno on October 24th, 2011, 08:20 PM
...marketplace is not safe...
This seems to be over-exaggerated. I don't really know how app make their way onto the market place, but they've updated it so that any apps that you download tell you what processes they use and why. Also Google has only had to hit the "killswitch" for apps a handful of times.when malicious apps have made their way into the Market.

I rather like Android over iOS. When I look at them both it's like looking at two different paintings[1]. One is a realistic painting that is very clean and organized in what it's trying to represent, but it can't be much more than it is. A painting about a family eating dinner is just a family eating dinner. While Android is a lot more abstract. It has wild and crazy edges and harder to get a feel for. It can evolve in our minds based on what we see it as.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that iOS is very static, updates don't change the look and feel of it much but it's still a very solid product. Android has more freedom when it comes to updates, which makes me excited whenever a new major version is coming out because I'm curious to see what they've come up with next.

That's just my input on it. Though I hope that I haven't laid down the lines to derail this into a iOS vs. Android thread. Oh dear.
 1. I'm not an artist nor have I taken any classes in art so I may be getting the terms incorrect, but hopefully you'll get what I mean.

Arantor

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Re: Google Galaxy Nexus
« Reply #14, on October 25th, 2011, 01:58 AM »
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The Galaxy Nexus is straight from Google so it doesn't have that problem with crapware, AFAIK.
Hmm, I thought the Galaxy range were Samsung devices? I didn't realise Google built any of their own hardware...
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Also Google has only had to hit the "killswitch" for apps a handful of times.when malicious apps have made their way into the Market.
That's all well and good for things in the main Android market. Unlike iOS where such things are pretty limited by nature and design, there are quite a few Android markets, with varying degrees of policing and quality. I have in particular heard horror stories about Amazon's app marketplace policies.
Quote
I'm not an artist nor have I taken any classes in art so I may be getting the terms incorrect, but hopefully you'll get what I mean.
If we understand what you're trying to get at, does it matter that the terms aren't necessarily correct? I understand the meaning you're trying to convey, which is enough for me :)
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Basically, what I'm trying to say is that iOS is very static, updates don't change the look and feel of it much but it's still a very solid product.
Jobs and co have always been fond of the notion that form follows function, and for the most part that's quite accurate in my experience.
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Android has more freedom when it comes to updates, which makes me excited whenever a new major version is coming out because I'm curious to see what they've come up with next.
On the flip side, there are problems inherent in that model. I don't want to have to go rummage through what's changed potentially every update. Even I as a developer like things to be where I left them, working how I expect them to.

Having more freedom doesn't implicitly demand or expect it to be used.

It's a tough call, and remember that while individual operators can get away with pushing their own variant if they choose, Apple can't because of the precedent it has set itself, of which consistency is amongst those things. Sure, things change between releases but for the most part, things are exactly where I left them, which is much easier on me as a user, and Apple considers the overall user experience pretty highly.