Official Avail. Nov 13th - Android 4.2 - LG Nexus 4 - Asus Nexus 7 - Samsung Nexus 10

[ponyo]

Yeah, I know you posted it, but it seems like Google has no interest in correcting it. They'd rather just change the instruction manual so it's officially not supported.

It might be physically impossible for Google to correct. I read elsewhere it's hardware issue and not firmware issue. Supposedly LG USB port can't supply the 5v needed for USB host feature. https://android.googlesource.com/device/lge/mako/+show/f608db225c5ead1c255fd84fa7f5431c2e3b3a72%5E2 Mako is the codename for Nexus 4.

 

[Eug]

Strange. Supposedly the LG Optimus G does support USB OTG according to LG, but I see reports of the ATT version not supporting it.

 

[rise]

Got my nexus 4 delivered NDA? No shipping notice, just arrived on my door yesterday...

 

[Eug]

Got my nexus 4 delivered NDA? No shipping notice, just arrived on my door yesterday...

Really, WTF is wrong with Google retail?!?

I ordered from them a week ago, with a projected shipping estimate of 2 months later. Besides the confirmation that I ordered, I hear absolutely nothing from them. Not a peep about it, and there is no way to check the current status online.

Yesterday I cancelled. Or so I thought. Now I get an email that states:

Thanks for contacting Google Play regarding cancellation of your order. All orders are processed directly after your purchase is complete. As a result, this means that there is a very short window of time to cancel an order prior to shipping.

Although we attempted to honor your request, we were unable to cancel your order in this window. There are a couple of options now:

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THE SHIPPING ADDRESS-

If you (or a known acquaintance) are able to access the shipping address, your package is scheduled to arrive there. If you no longer want the package, you can refuse the unopened package from the shipper and Google will issue you a refund. You can read the instructions for refusing delivery for your location below.

In the U.S. and Canada:

If your device has not yet been delivered, it is en route, and you may be able to REFUSE DELIVERY (see instructions below). If your device has been delivered, you may still be able to refund delivery of unopened packages within 5 days of delivery. To do so, contact our shipper directly to schedule a pick up of your package. Make sure to let them know that the pickup is specifically because you're refusing delivery. If your device was delivered more than 5 days ago, but you would like to return it, please follow the returns process posted at: http://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2411741

That's just fscked up. I could understand it if it was processed, to be shipped in a couple of days. But given the estimated ship date, and the fact I have had absolutely no subsequent communication from them at all, that's probably not the case.

I tells ya, the whole crappy order process, the lack of communication and status availability, and the useless cancellation procedure makes me not want to ever order anything from Google again.

 

[rise]

Yeah, they really need to tighten things up. I had a "2-3 weeks" notice when I finally got an order through so I was expecting it maybe next week.

Their launches would be comical if not so frustrating.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Change that to this and see what you get.
Proxy: <none>
Port: <none>

I've been using Straight Talk for over a year now...No proxy needed.

Yeah, I followed SJWastes APN settings and have much better speeds. They vary a lot though and I'm assuming due to network congestion. In the house, upwards of 1.5 mbps download. In the city upwards to 2.5 -4 mbps and in the burbs upwards of 6 mbps.

 

[VashHT]

I get around 7 down and 1 up on ATT using some APN settings I found on XDA. Before I changed the settings speed tests wouldn't even work but it seemed to be pretty fast so I'm not sure if it helped or not.

Not sure if anyone else saw that some people are getting LTE on ATT as well, I don't think it works in the chicago area but the guy posting on XDA that was getting it was around oklahoma city.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

The more I think about it, the more I'm annoyed with Google's lack of an SD card. This is especially for the Nexus 7 and 10. With the 4 I can understand. A small population would load up 1080p movies onto their Nexus 4, and so a 32gb model should suffice. But for the Nexus 7 and 10, I don't see them launching 64gb tablets next year, so who knows. Removable storage is very necessary to put on a few HD movies.

 

[AnMig]

Google store is messed up

Ordered a Nexus 7 a few months ago, after about an hour after ordering I found out it was available at our local Walmart.
Google would not allow me to cancel the order and told me it was too lat to cancel (1 hour after). Instructed me to refuse the package. Unfortunatel I could not sit at hoem waiting for the package to arrive.

 

[Eug]

The more I think about it, the more I'm annoyed with Google's lack of an SD card. This is especially for the Nexus 7 and 10. With the 4 I can understand. A small population would load up 1080p movies onto their Nexus 4, and so a 32gb model should suffice. But for the Nexus 7 and 10, I don't see them launching 64gb tablets next year, so who knows. Removable storage is very necessary to put on a few HD movies.

What annoyed me more was Google not releasing their 32 GB in the first place, because I would have bought that model instead of the 16 I have now.

 

[ponyo]

The more I think about it, the more I'm annoyed with Google's lack of an SD card. This is especially for the Nexus 7 and 10. With the 4 I can understand. A small population would load up 1080p movies onto their Nexus 4, and so a 32gb model should suffice. But for the Nexus 7 and 10, I don't see them launching 64gb tablets next year, so who knows. Removable storage is very necessary to put on a few HD movies.

Which is why working Stickmount and USB OTG is so important. It works on Nexus 7 so it's not really an issue. But it doesn't work on Nexus 4 and 10 and that's a big problem. I think it's really big deal on the 10 since Google is charging $100 extra for 16 gb storage. 16gb USB thumb drive is like $10.

 

[Red Storm]

You don't need 8GB BR Rips for a small 720P screen.

 

[ponyo]

Google store is messed up

Ordered a Nexus 7 a few months ago, after about an hour after ordering I found out it was available at our local Walmart.
Google would not allow me to cancel the order and told me it was too lat to cancel (1 hour after). Instructed me to refuse the package. Unfortunatel I could not sit at hoem waiting for the package to arrive.

Yup. I canceled two orders with Google Play Store. Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. Both times it was a hassle to cancel. Terrible store.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Google store is messed up

Ordered a Nexus 7 a few months ago, after about an hour after ordering I found out it was available at our local Walmart.
Google would not allow me to cancel the order and told me it was too lat to cancel (1 hour after). Instructed me to refuse the package. Unfortunatel I could not sit at hoem waiting for the package to arrive.

Well they do require signature so I'm sure that'll work too. But they are pretty fast at shipping. I ordered Tuesday at 3am in the morning, and by afternoon I got a shipping notice. By then it was scheduled for delivery Wednesday. Even if it takes a bit for the actual physical movement to start, in their system it moves to processing almost instantaneously. Kinda like Amazon. You have a 30 minute window to cancel and then it moves forward through the whole process already.

 

[Eug]

You don't need 8GB BR Rips for a small 720P screen.

No you don't, but if you already have them, it's easier to just to load them on (internal storage or microSD), than it is to re-encode them. I watch the same videos on my Nexus 7 that I watch on my home theatre projector, except with my Nexus 7 I use a 64 GB USB flash drive.

Encode once, and you're done.

Well they do require signature so I'm sure that'll work too. But they are pretty fast at shipping. I ordered Tuesday at 3am in the morning, and by afternoon I got a shipping notice. By then it was scheduled for delivery Wednesday. Even if it takes a bit for the actual physical movement to start, in their system it moves to processing almost instantaneously. Kinda like Amazon. You have a 30 minute window to cancel and then it moves forward through the whole process already.

With Amazon (at least Amazon.ca), it's fast if they have stock to ship. Otherwise you can cancel.

With Google, even if they have no stock and don't expect stock for two months, after a short period of time you can no longer cancel. That's a very big difference.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

You don't need 8GB BR Rips for a small 720P screen.

So I need to get make a 700mb rip to suit my tablet needs? Jeez. Screw that. People have sabnbzd+couchpotato setup to download high quality rips. Look at the HTPC forum and I know there are some XBMC users here, but their system is setup perfectly.

I don't have to download 16kbps MP3s for my tablet, so why should I compromise here?

I guess the point I'm making is that SDcards was once championed by the Android camp, and now that Google's becoming like the evil Apple, the least they can do is to offer bigger capacities. While I think it's foolish for people to spend like $800+ on an iPad 64GB with LTE, the fact that we're just stuck with nothing on the Android side is disappointing.

Which is why working Stickmount and USB OTG is so important. It works on Nexus 7 so it's not really an issue. But it doesn't work on Nexus 4 and 10 and that's a big problem. I think it's really big deal on the 10 since Google is charging $100 extra for 16 gb storage. 16gb USB thumb drive is like $10.

The thing is it's still not an elegant solution, and no one really wants an ugly stick sticking out. I guess it's like an extended battery. We just need a better built solution, but even then it's not the best because we're sacrificing a lot.

 

[tdawg]

Anybody using one of these on T-Mobile? I'm very tempted to leave Verizon for magenta's $30 / mo value (bring-your-own-phone) plan and am curious what speeds are like on the network. Bonus points for comparisons to Verizon's LTE. I'm using a Galaxy Nexus currently but am torn between changing to a Nexus 4 or Galaxy Note 2.

I'm still a bit reluctant to lose my unlimited data with Verizon, but $40-$50 savings per month certainly helps alleviate the discomfort.

 

[Red Storm]

Anybody using one of these on T-Mobile? I'm very tempted to leave Verizon for magenta's $30 / mo value (bring-your-own-phone) plan and am curious what speeds are like on the network. Bonus points for comparisons to Verizon's LTE. I'm using a Galaxy Nexus currently but am torn between changing to a Nexus 4 or Galaxy Note 2.

I'm still a bit reluctant to lose my unlimited data with Verizon, but $40-$50 savings per month certainly helps alleviate the discomfort.

My T-Mobile sim will be delivered today. I am going to try out the same plan. My only concern is that apparently T-Mobile's prepaid data network is much smaller than their post-paid network.

 

[ponyo]

The thing is it's still not an elegant solution, and no one really wants an ugly stick sticking out. I guess it's like an extended battery. We just need a better built solution, but even then it's not the best because we're sacrificing a lot.

It's not an elegant solution but it's better than no solution. And if you're using it mainly for tv shows and movies, it works beautifully. You can plug it when you're watching HD content and unplug it when you're done. Base 16 or 32gb on the tablet should be plenty for apps. The issue is really only for HD TV shows and movies. USB OTG not working on Nexus 4 and 10 is a deal killer. Especially on the 10. And because USB OTG doesn't work, you can't connect and upload pictures from DLSR cameras to the 10 and view it on the beautiful screen. Stuff like this you can do it on pretty much any other highend android phones and tablets and yet you can't do it on Google flagship Nexus 4 & 10.

 

[Eug]

Nexus 4 factory images, binaries disappear from Google site

In slightly puzzling news, Google appears to have pulled the Nexus 4 Android 4.2.x system images from its online repository of factory images. These files allow devices to be restored to their original state, so if something goes wrong when flashing a ROM or otherwise tinkering with your phone, there's an easy way back to stock.

Our best guess is that this might relate to the LTE situation on the Nexus 4. By changing a hidden setting, it's possible to use the N4 on LTE networks running on Band 4 (AWS), though this is not officially documented or approved by regulators. And that last part may be key -- if Google is preparing to patch this hidden LTE option out of the Nexus 4 -- as it'd be required to do to avoid falling foul of bodies like the FCC -- then clearing out earlier factory images might simply be a precaution. It's possible Google's looking to keep regulators happy by making it harder to find the earlier radio code that enabled this unlicensed LTE functionality. That's just speculation on our part, however, there may be a much more innocuous explanation.

 

[vshah]

Anybody using one of these on T-Mobile? I'm very tempted to leave Verizon for magenta's $30 / mo value (bring-your-own-phone) plan and am curious what speeds are like on the network. Bonus points for comparisons to Verizon's LTE. I'm using a Galaxy Nexus currently but am torn between changing to a Nexus 4 or Galaxy Note 2.

I'm still a bit reluctant to lose my unlimited data with Verizon, but $40-$50 savings per month certainly helps alleviate the discomfort.

nexus 4 on tmo. I saw these speeds in nyc, dc, and orlando. at home in pittsburgh it's usually around 10-12.

 

[zerocool84]

nexus 4 on tmo. I saw these speeds in nyc, dc, and orlando. at home in pittsburgh it's usually around 10-12.

How's coverage though, data and voice?

 

[vshah]

How's coverage though, data and voice?

in every major metro i've spent decent time in (pittsburgh, philly, nyc, boston, washington dc, orlando, seattle, san francisco) voice and data coverage has been excellent. however, if you drive more than an hour outside any of these areas, expect to be on 2G/edge. drive 2+ hours out and you may not have signal if you're not on an interstate.

however, I only pay 120 for 5 lines, 3 with data (one with true unlimited). I also have a verizon wifi hotspot for those times when tmo coverage is lacking, and I still save a ton of money vs. a verizon plan.

 

[zerocool84]

in every major metro i've spent decent time in (pittsburgh, philly, nyc, boston, washington dc, orlando, seattle, san francisco) voice and data coverage has been excellent. however, if you drive more than an hour outside any of these areas, expect to be on 2G/edge. drive 2+ hours out and you may not have signal if you're not on an interstate.

That's perfect, I hardly ever leave large metro areas.

 

[lothar]

in every major metro i've spent decent time in (pittsburgh, philly, nyc, boston, washington dc, orlando, seattle, san francisco) voice and data coverage has been excellent. however, if you drive more than an hour outside any of these areas, expect to be on 2G/edge. drive 2+ hours out and you may not have signal if you're not on an interstate.

however, I only pay 120 for 5 lines, 3 with data (one with true unlimited). I also have a verizon wifi hotspot for those times when tmo coverage is lacking, and I still save a ton of money vs. a verizon plan.

What are the exact details of your plan?
Each line how much data, how much shared minutes, value plan or classic plan?

My mom and two brothers are on this plan: Classic Plan with 1500 shared minutes, unlimited text, weekend, and T-Mobile to T-Mobile minutes.
Line #1: $99.99
Line #2: $0 (First line is free)
Line #3: $10.00(each line after the first free one has $10/month access charge)
= $109.99/month. My mom has been paying this same price for 3 years and never renewed the contract for free or subsidized phones on each line which has been long overdue.

All are feature phones...Well, my brother bought an LG G2X for $20 from some homeless guy on the street(probably stolen?) 2 months ago but disables mobile data on it.

I have her Nexus 4 sealed up in my bedroom for Christmas.
Will probably move her and my brothers over from the Classic Plan to Value Plan.

I went to T-Mobile's website and priced out this Value Plan: 1000 shared minutes, unlimited text, weekend, and T-Mobile to T-Mobile minutes.
Line #1: $59.99 + $10/month "unlimited plus"(I assume this is 2GB data?)
Line #2: Free + $10/month "unlimited plus"
Line #3: $5 Add a line fee + $10/month "unlimited plus"
= $94.98/month.

I'm confused about the $10/month "unlimited plus"...So is each phone going to have their own 2GB data or are all lines sharing the same monthly 2GB data allowance?
That said, "unlimited plus" isn't needed on my younger brother's line since he still uses a feature phone. The other brother with the LG G2X, not sure if he wants it or not...He seems fine using WiFi, so all together that's an extra $20/month that could potentially come off that $94.98/month price to bring it down to $74.98 if needed be.

It's a shame that you're only given the choice of 1,000 shared minutes or Unlimited. They can all share that, but if I ever decide at any point in time to re-join them; 1,000 minutes won't be enough for 4 people. 1,500-2,000 minutes for 4 people? Sure. We're not ones to yap on the phones all day.