Another Nexus 7 / iPad 2 Observation Thread - Nexus 7 General

First time, long time.
Alright, well before I get flamed for either being up Steve Jobs ass or being a Google loyalist, first alittle about my history with Apple and Google.
My first real Smartphone was the HTC G1 running Andriod 1.0 before that the closest thing I had was an LG Dare. I got it on day 1 and was really excited to see what Android was all about because I was sick of people showing off there iPhones and I never considered myself an 'Apple Guy'. I liked the phone but for anyone who remembers it, it really couldn't hold a candle to the iPhone. So long story short I had it for about a year got drunk and left it behind in cab. At that point I took the plunge and got an iPhone 3GS, and was very pleased with it. All that lag that I had gotten accustom to with my G1 was gone and I had access to a much larger App store. I had the 3GS for two years then I upgraded to the 4S which was a much smaller leap forward. The screen was nice but you stop noticing it after awhile and Siri, looks cool in commercials but in real life serves no purpose unless you're driving. Needless to say it wasn't a huge improvement over my previous 3GS. I was on the fence about getting the 4S I really wanted to try and get back into Android with the Nexus Prime, but my contract was up and their wasn't even an Official release date on the horizon yet just speculation.
Now in terms of tablets. The first tablet I ever bought was the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and I was real excited to get it. I liked the Xoom a lot to but held off once I heard about the Galaxy because for whatever reason I thought a Samsung tablet had to be better than a Motorola one. I never gave the iPad much attention because it's basically a big iPhone and I have had an iPhone for the last 2 years and the prospect of spending 400-500 for an iPhone with a larger screen didn't do anything for me. The Tab 10.1 was ok but still very 'laggey' and choppy and was a little disappointing to be honest. Plus I HATED Touchwiz, so like everyone else on the XDA forum I rooted an installed a custom Rom (AOSP Kang I think they were around Milestone 3 when I did it). It was much better but not perfect, smoother but still not 'buttery' and apps like the web browser and MX Player were prone to crash once in awhile. Anyway long story short when I heard about the Nexus 7 it sounded perfect to me so I preordered mine day 1, listed the Tab 10.1 on eBay and made the switch.
How I ended up with an iPad 2. Basically my office gave them to all the outside sales reps so we could do product demonstrations in front of customers at their location. They made a bunch of Keynote presentations and video and honestly the whole package they put together was pretty nice. Anyway I've had it for at least the last 3 months.
TLR - I don't consider myself in either camp, I've owned both Google and Apple products. Sophi's choice if I had to pick a side - I would probably go Andriod.
Anyway here we go.
The OS - While I wish the Nexus 7 had the tablet UI and I know I can get it if I root it, I haven't. I like the 4.1 over IOS way better. Even though it's just a much improved version on Honeycomb I think its way better for a tablet then IOS, which to this day is still just an iPhone with a larger screen. There's something about it that just feels more like a handheld computer then IOS. Maybe its the customization or all the tweaks to the home screen but hands down this is the best thing Andriod has going for it.
Smoothness - Here is where Andriod really needs to catch up, and 4.1 is a huge step forward but still can't touch the iPad (2). Apples really has this locked down, while the Nexus 7 is the most responsive Android device I've played with it still can't come close to matching the iPad/iPhone. I rarely if ever notice any slow down or come across any hiccups/lag on any of my iOS devices. I know iOS doesn't have widgets or true multitasking but it makes for a much smoother user experience. I don't know why that's a bad thing either, I don't know what you have to have running in the background besides music or downloads but you can do both of those things on the iPad and it still works flawlessly.
Form Factor - This is kind of a draw, I like them both. Actually if I wanted to go bigger I liked the Tab's 10.1 display on the Galaxy.
Build Quality - That would have to go to Apple but I know it's a $200 budget tablet VS $400 premium tablet. Although I would take the rubberized material on the back of the Nexus 7 over the silver metal on the back of the iPad, just makes it feel more rugged/durable In my opion.
Apps - Overall quality of Apps has to go to Apple, plus I like the fact they had a separate section for tablet apps. Although the fact that I can get emulators like FPse and play Final Fantasy 9 on my Nexus 7 might even it all out in the end. I guess this is a pretty common complaint among people coming from iOS about Google Play. If Google just did things like add more categories and promote the top apps in those categories better I think a lot of those complaints would go away. Not to mention I still dont get why something that $2.99 on the Apple app store is $5.99 on Google Play. I can't site anything specific I just feel like things on Google Play are more expensive, not all the time but some of the time.
Battery - I don't know about while being used since I still use my Nexus 7 way more than the iPad. But on standby with Wifi turned on the iPad 2 lasts way longer then my Nexus 7 when they're both left off the charger over night. There's hardly a dent in iPad battery but the Nexus 7 will take a serious hit.
Gaming - Gotta give this to the Nexus 7, or maybe just the 7" form factor, its great for playing games. Fits great in your hands and works well with virtual buttons. Plus almost any noteworthy game on iOS is on Android plus you have tons of awesome emulators.
That's all I got, thanks for reading and let me know if you agree or disagree. But please don't turn this into a thread with a 100 "Stop sucking Apples ****" like comments.
PS - I have been noticing that my Nexus 7 isn't registering every touch and it seems to happen sporadically. The issue is fixed when I lock then unlock the screen. Anyone have a more permanent fix or is it a known hardware/software problem.
Thanks

Interesting. I agree with you on most points. I'm a big Apple fan (and owned an iPad 2 for a few months) but I can recognize this Nexus 7 (which I own too) is a great device !
I think what I miss most is high quality apps. Android has some good apps but IMO, most of them doesn't look as good and work as well as their iOS equivalents. But with the popularity of the Nexus 7, I think this might get better over time.

also have the ipad and the nexus 7, i'm banking on the nexus 7 getting more support, when that happens, it will be a more useful device even more

Maybe I'm just crazy, or partially biased since Apple's recent actions have me exceptionally disappointed in them, but I have an iPad right here... and I really can't put into words how disinterested I am in that device anymore. My 2c.

Was about to write a similar post. I had the iPhone 3gs and original iPad for a bit, but for the last 2 years have been strictly Android. For phones I've had HTC Evo, Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note and Galaxy S3. For tablets I've had the Xoom, the original Galaxy Tab 7, the Galaxy 10, and now the Nexus.
Last week I had to buy an iPad 3 to demo my company's iPad app, and was planning on returning it after 30 days. I remembered thinking the Nexus 7 was so damn smooth, but after playing with the iPad it's definitely got some work to do. Also, I absolutely love the reddit app on iPad (AlienBlue).
That all being said, I still hate most of iOS's locked down features and how it's just a big iPhone, but I can't deny it's polish. So much so that I might be interested in a 7 inch version of iPad when it comes out.

Thank you for the fair comparisons. Its often difficult for me to believe reviews are unbiased. In this case, I can relate since I own a Galaxy Tab 10.1 and a Nexus 7. And maybe, just maybe I will check out the mini iPad to see for myself. Up to this point I have had no interest in apple products, because of what I felt like unnecessary restrictions. But if they do come out with a mini version, and a price tag to match it, I think I am finally convinced to give it a try.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

stevieraveon said:
Was about to write a similar post. I had the iPhone 3gs and original iPad for a bit, but for the last 2 years have been strictly Android. For phones I've had HTC Evo, Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note and Galaxy S3. For tablets I've had the Xoom, the original Galaxy Tab 7, the Galaxy 10, and now the Nexus.
Last week I had to buy an iPad 3 to demo my company's iPad app, and was planning on returning it after 30 days. I remembered thinking the Nexus 7 was so damn smooth, but after playing with the iPad it's definitely got some work to do. Also, I absolutely love the reddit app on iPad (AlienBlue).
That all being said, I still hate most of iOS's locked down features and how it's just a big iPhone, but I can't deny it's polish. So much so that I might be interested in a 7 inch version of iPad when it comes out.
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Just wanted to point this out. Same can be said about any Android tablet. Aren't Android tablet's just "one big Android phone?" Think about that since they (both ipad/iphone) and Android (phone/tablet) share mobile OS's.

In ics they have the tablet UI.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium HD app

aneftp said:
Just wanted to point this out. Same can be said about any Android tablet. Aren't Android tablet's just "one big Android phone?" Think about that since they (both ipad/iphone) and Android (phone/tablet) share mobile OS's.
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Ya I agree. Now the the Android tablet UI and mobile are very similar. Android still tweaks it a little bit for example notifications being on the bottom instead of the top the menu keys being off to the side as opposed to the middle, and the lack of a 'dock' or whatever its called the phones have that the tablet does not. iOS is exactly the same across the phone and tablet besides some apps taking advantage of the larger screen, which the same could be said for Android
I was talking more the jump from Ginger bread to Honeycomb, now there very very similar.

I have pretty much the same opinions, except that it is the iOS store that seems more expensive to me. And I can almost always find an app with a function I need for free on Google play while the iOS store has 1 or 2 good paid apps, and several terrible free ones (ex. the mkv player I was looking for a week ago)
I should also mention that I have the 3rd gen iPad, and it definitely beats 7 on the looks and build quality. However, I often just get extremely frustrated with the OS, I don't know if "locked down" is quite the word to describe it. Really what would make the happiest person alive is putting Android on the iPad hardware (or shell anyway).
To sum up: 3rd iPad looks delicious, and it a joy to use with things Apple wants you to use, but lacks a lot of functionality. The Nexus, ironically, "just works."
Drewbin said:
PS - I have been noticing that my Nexus 7 isn't registering every touch and it seems to happen sporadically. The issue is fixed when I lock then unlock the screen. Anyone have a more permanent fix or is it a known hardware/software problem.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is my only problem with the device so far. Seems more like a software issue due to the nature of the temporary fix

Like yourself i too have had the opportunity to own both devices. I found the 10" form to be way to big for me. It even caused me to sell my iPad.
However, the 7" size on the nexus is perfect and honestly expect apple to come out with a tablet this size because imo it really is perfect.

Sounds like you have something eating your battery while it's in sleep mode. I lose about 2-4% overnight.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

How is having device specific app a good thing? It's actually pretty stupid to have a specific iPhone app, a specific iPad app, a specific iNote with digitizer pen app if they ever come out with one, etc. when it's simpler and more efficient to have one app cover all devices.
As for the claim with touch input not registering, have you enabled the built-in show touch input under developer options? More than likely it is registering the touch input but the app is busy such as is the case with Chrome when it's downloading and rendering a long web page.
As far as UI responsiveness iOS doesn't really do much other than display a static grid of icons. I can take an ancient 386 33MHz PC and it'll display and navigate the Window 3.1 desktop with ease. They both do very little to nothing with the UI.

Yeah, as far as the battery goes... I'm at 72% on my Nexus 7, after 55hrs, no charging involved. lol. Its been used a little, not too much, but it's keeping its juice for me.

F34RDR01D said:
Yeah, as far as the battery goes... I'm at 72% on my Nexus 7, after 55hrs, no charging involved. lol. Its been used a little, not too much, but it's keeping its juice for me.
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Stock rom? Is wifi/everything turned off?

sparkerjc said:
Stock rom? Is wifi/everything turned off?
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Click to collapse
If your not using the device, WiFi and Bluetooth go to sleep. So in effect the device goes into "airplane" mode. If I go the day without using mine, it drains at about 8-10% a day as well.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 08:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 AM ----------
mi7chy said:
How is having device specific app a good thing? It's actually pretty stupid to have a specific iPhone app, a specific iPad app, a specific iNote with digitizer pen app if they ever come out with one, etc. when it's simpler and more efficient to have one app cover all devices.
As for the claim with touch input not registering, have you enabled the built-in show touch input under developer options? More than likely it is registering the touch input but the app is busy such as is the case with Chrome when it's downloading and rendering a long web page.
As far as UI responsiveness iOS doesn't really do much other than display a static grid of icons. I can take an ancient 386 33MHz PC and it'll display and navigate the Window 3.1 desktop with ease. They both do very little to nothing with the UI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love when I see other people that "get it" when it comes to Android app development vs. iOS app development. I'm constantly trying to explain to iFans and even some Android fans that in android you don't need multiple apps to cover phones, tablets, and now even TVs. But with iOS you do.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

ExploreMN said:
If your not using the device, WiFi and Bluetooth go to sleep. So in effect the device goes into "airplane" mode. If I go the day without using mine, it drains at about 8-10% a day as well.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 08:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 AM ----------
I love when I see other people that "get it" when it comes to Android app development vs. iOS app development. I'm constantly trying to explain to iFans and even some Android fans that in android you don't need multiple apps to cover phones, tablets, and now even TVs. But with iOS you do.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but I disagree... For example, take Twitter on Nexus 7 vs iPad.. Please don't tell me it's better on Android:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
vs

maxqc said:
Sorry but I disagree... For example, take Twitter on Nexus 7 vs iPad.. Please don't tell me it's better on Android:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You disagree because you (apparently) don't understand what I or the person I was responding to are actually saying... We are talking about app development, not comparing one Android app to one iOS app. What we are talking about is on a far larger scope. If devs don't restrict themselves to SDKs older than 2.3 apps can be written to display and work perfectly on multiple screen sizes without needing to be "stretched out" but instead have their own discrete set of UI elements/layouts, etc based on the screen size. In other words, a new version of Twitter than basically forgoes old versions of Android could be made to work like the "phone" version you see on the N7 AND work like the "tablet" version you see on the iPad, but in the same apk. This is probably where Android's infamous "fragmentation" issue really lies. Supporting legacy versions of Android. In the case of your Twitter app, it supports all the way back to 1.5 right? So of course it will be little more than a stretched out small screen app.
Does that make more sense?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

ExploreMN said:
You disagree because you (apparently) don't understand what I or the person I was responding to are actually saying... We are talking about app development, not comparing one Android app to one iOS app. What we are talking about is on a far larger scope. If devs don't restrict themselves to SDKs older than 2.3 apps can be written to display and work perfectly on multiple screen sizes without needing to be "stretched out" but instead have their own discrete set of UI elements/layouts, etc based on the screen size. In other words, a new version of Twitter than basically forgoes old versions of Android could be made to work like the "phone" version you see on the N7 AND work like the "tablet" version you see on the iPad, but in the same apk. This is probably where Android's infamous "fragmentation" issue really lies. Supporting legacy versions of Android. In the case of your Twitter app, it supports all the way back to 1.5 right? So of course it will be little more than a stretched out small screen app.
Does that make more sense?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep! Thanks.

Greater review! Agree with most of the stuff u written.

Related

The blackberry playbook is amazing!

Got the chance to play with the blackberry playbook and this thing is amazingly fast almost as fast as ipad2. Multitasking is mind boggling i tried running 4 hd videos simultaneously and never had a single hickup. I love the interface a lot better than an ipad and android. Hulu works in the browser as its a full web browsing experience. The lcd screen is as good as the ipad if not better as the color is more saturated the only downside is the fewer apps available. The dual core texas instrument 1ghz processor with parallel multitasking does makes the difference its so much fun to use.
mywingtophone said:
Got the chance to play with the blackberry playbook and this thing is amazingly fast almost as fast as ipad2. Multitasking is mind boggling i tried running 4 hd videos simultaneously and never had a single hickup. I love the interface a lot better than an ipad and android. Hulu works in the browser as its a full web browsing experience. The lcd screen is as good as the ipad if not better as the color is more saturated the only downside is the fewer apps available. The dual core texas instrument 1ghz processor with parallel multitasking does makes the difference its so much fun to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Curious, how does one run 4 HD videos at once?
Seems okay but still think I will opt out for the ipad2 just cause its more well put together tablet and it just works. Like the fact you will be able to run some android apps on it, don't like the fact that you MUST have an blackberry(with the bb data plan) to fully use the tablet at times.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Hotshot205 said:
Seems okay but still think I will opt out for the ipad2 just cause its more well put together tablet and it just works. Like the fact you will be able to run some android apps on it, don't like the fact that you MUST have an blackberry(with the bb data plan) to fully use the tablet at times.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the first gen iPad but the lack of full web functionality turned me off after a while. Not being able to view... practically half of the internet because of the lack of flash was a big thing for me. That and the fact that, while it's a great machine and great for what it does, it's kind of limited in what all it can really do.
iOS is boring; to me anyway. And after the initial magic and shine wore off... there was really nothing interesting to do with the device.
Yeah I think I am on the same boat. Ios is very limited. Looking into getting the playbook this weekend.
the camera video quality is awesome
Good,good,good
Indeed it is... Can't wait to get my hands on mine.
If anyone is looking for a tower defense game with a twist I suggest checking out Lonely Turret for the Blackberry Playbook (I know the dev ). I've tried the game out on a simulator and became addicted quickly - looking forward to trying it out on the actual playbook myself. But definitely give it a look if you have a playbook and want a good game.
Intesting. I had only heard bad things about the device until now. I wonder if they'll backpedal on the whole "you need a BB phone" fiasco. It really makes no ****ing sense.
CptAJ said:
Intesting. I had only heard bad things about the device until now. I wonder if they'll backpedal on the whole "you need a BB phone" fiasco. It really makes no ****ing sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think they'll quite go back on it; doing so would look bad for the company and show Co dimers a big feature they worked hard on just to To can in the end.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App
So, coming from Blackberry World and posting from my Playbook, RIM has definitively said the Bridge requirement will be gone by mid June. The standalone PIM apps were demo'd multiple times. And, of course, a Sprint LTE version is coming then as well.
No specific date on the Android player yet, although it was demo'd live as well. The Android apps that were shown were brought over without assistance from the original devs and no source required. It's just a repackage of the apk.
This hardware is fantastic and QNX is blazing fast.
Yeah I really like the look of this tablet. Also all of the things that are flaws with it atm, seem to be getting ironed out by RIM soon. The intuitive way RIM have even done the controls for the Android player are awesome. The only thing I'd say is they could have brought it out in a 7" and 10" model just for choice as if you're really looking for compact, you could pickup the 7" but if you're looking at buying it for the media aspect you could just buy the 10". But it's RIM's first tablet so I can see why they only brought out the one size... Now to start saving.
Oh yeah I'm also wondering how RIM are going to handle the updating of Android apps. It would be cool if there was a program made that would convert the apk's to what ever file type is needed for the QNX OS.
Oh and of course, what hacking (if any) is going to be like. All to look forward to.
Sorry for the delayed response
A 10" version is planned. Expect it before the end of the calendar year.
Also, the .bar file format on the Playbook is not much different from a .apk file. It is just a compressed file with some metadata. All the developer has to do is unzip and rezip their current release essentially. I am sure there is a tool in the SDK for developers to rezip their app.
I would imagine it won't be long before an after the fact tool is available to users so they can take an apk from their phone and turn it into a bar file.
purplebear said:
A 10" version is planned. Expect it before the end of the calendar year.
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Click to collapse
Do you know when QNX will be showing up on the smartphones ? I heard OS 7 will be mixed with it ( QNX ).
The Playbook definitely looks tempting, too bad you can't get it here in Australia plus the lack of a 10 incher now means I'm looking for a transformer
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Tempted but hav a xoom n nook plus kindle 2
purplebear said:
So, coming from Blackberry World and posting from my Playbook, RIM has definitively said the Bridge requirement will be gone by mid June. The standalone PIM apps were demo'd multiple times. And, of course, a Sprint LTE version is coming then as well.
No specific date on the Android player yet, although it was demo'd live as well. The Android apps that were shown were brought over without assistance from the original devs and no source required. It's just a repackage of the apk.
This hardware is fantastic and QNX is blazing fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's really good to hear. The sadly I haven't had any time to spend with the tablet itself but from what I have seen it looks like a great product.
The next time I'm around a best buy ill definitely drop by and take a look.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App

My Nexus 7 Review (From An iPad User)

I finally got around to my review:
http://ninjafrog.tumblr.com/post/28888180324/nexus7
Nexus 7 Review (From An iPad User)
Well to be fair you have to compare it to a ipod touch, as they are the same price.
jayman16 said:
I finally got around to my review:
http://ninjafrog.tumblr.com/post/28888180324/nexus7
Nexus 7 Review (From An iPad User)
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Click to collapse
Totally disagree with bur post on some of the cons. I own an android phone, iPhone and an iPad.
The thing that bothers me the most (as with several other iOS users) is that the is is so simple its just out right stupid. The fact that apple has to resort to a screenful of icons that do nothing except show a picture of a static image. Of course its fast, there's nothing to do when scrolling.
The notifications in iOS is useless. I constantly see 1 week old emails in my iOS notifications screen.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
jayman16 said:
I finally got around to my review:
http://ninjafrog.tumblr.com/post/28888180324/nexus7
Nexus 7 Review (From An iPad User)
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Click to collapse
The reson iOS is "fast" it's because it doesn't do true multi-tasking. It literally shuts everything down except foreground app. This works great in the era of Palm OS. But as you notice in Android, more and more apps are always on continuously. (eg. all those widgets, web apps, etc are all running and doing something on the background)
Apple will be in a lot of trouble when it tries to put on "widget, because then it will have to do true multi-tasking... (then we will see what iOS lag is.)
It's easy to force user only to push one icon at a time. It doesn't need quad processor/1.4Ghz just to show 4 rows of icons. Of course the damned thing will be insanely fast, since all the processor is doing is flipping pages that contains nothing but 4 rows of icons. But that won't be enough anymore... Let's talk when iPad is doing full service widget and multi-tasking like android.
The lack of physical buttons does get very frustrating... I don't have anything with virtual keys but i know the buttons on my sensation piss me off occasionally when i hit back instead of space. I actually find myself missing the space bar a lot because i try to avoid the back button instead. Swiftkey helps for that correcting words.
And god is the back button on android annoying. I hate how it's like the lottery, hmm... what was i doing before this place... let's see, nope crap, home screen.
But for all that, android is still fun because of widgets and the openness. I think it's like mac vs windows for me... I enjoy having the company of both. Since you don't like your nexus 7 as much anymore... let me give it a whirl? =D
I have the nexus 7 and an iPad 3. I do like customizing my nexus 7 with widgets and such but I actually like the way my iPad handles "multitasking". I use both for different circumstances. I hate web surfing on the nexus and reading PDF files but I prefer the form factor more for gaming on the nexus. Both work great for email and video for me. I don't think any device can fully satisfy all my needs but the combination of the two covers me across the board. I have to credit google and asus. I have never liked android but this completely changed my mind and I find myself promoting both to family and friends based on their needs. When I travel I mount my nexus 7 on my dash for navigation which is tethered to my awesome iPhone 4s so they as well as us here can play nice together lol
I'm not an Apple fan really, but I've owned an iPad 1 and now have an iPad 3, but think of myself as more of an Android fan...
Your cons are wrong, they are your opinions of course. But I think when you spend some time with Android they probably won't really bother you much. Here are my thoughts on those things you mentioned...
The 16:10 form factor (it's not 16:9).
I do actually like Apple's 4:3 ratio quite a bit. I wish someone would make a high quality Android tablet in that form factor. While I don't dislike 16:10. I do like holding my tablet in portrait mode and with 4:3 it's still wide enough in portrait that websites are still readable.
With the Nexus 7 though I'm liking 16:10 more than I probably would on a 10 inch tablet. With a 10 inch tablet I can't really hold a tablet one handed in landscape mode for too long because of the weight, hence why I like portrait mode. But with this 7 inch Nexus 7, I find it's light enough that I can hold it in landscape mode one handed and not be uncomfortable.
It's strong point is most of the screen is used when playing videos. There is some letter boxing (most videos are 16:9 and the screen is 16:10), but it's minor and some apps have the soft keys dimmed on the screen, so just enough room for them and still seeing all of the video. It's perfect.
Chrome does get cramped feeling though in landscape with the tabs and address bar and menu bar at top and the softkeys on the bottom. I wish Chrome had a full screen mode so bad. Maybe some day. Until then there is Dolphin.
The keyboard realestate is a non issue for me since I'm busy looking at the keyboard when I'm typing anyway.
Soft keys.
I'm fine with them. But yeah I've hit the home button instead of the space bar. The Nexus 7 uses the phone UI by default. I like like the tablet UI with the soft keys being off to the left side and the menu bar and notifications being on the right side. And you can switch to that UI if you are rooted and following a simple guide.
I do sometimes wish Android had a home button. My Touchpad and Nook Color with Android do and it's nice to be able to wake the device up with that button on the front instead of having to search for the power button on the side. But other than that, I don't really miss physical buttons much.
Back button.
Never thought much about the back button in Android. I guess I've exited an app quite a bit that I didn't mean too, but I guess I've gotten used to it and just go back into the app. I think always knowing where the back button is outweighs the occasional mess up on my part.
Project butter.
Android still needs more work to match iOS's smoothness. Agreed.
Tablet apps.
Hopefully in time this will improve. The issue is we've had Android 2.x for phones and Android 3.x for tablets. Android 4.x unified things, but it's still on a minority of Android devices. And developers just seem to love Apple more (guess it's easier when developing for a hand full of devices versus hundreds).
Seeing the DirecTV on my iPad and then on my Android, I want to cry.
Audio.
Never though of multitasking audio as bad. Whatever is playing is usually found in the notification tray, so if something is still playing, I can pause or stop it very quickly.
by all the Android users I see in the real world doing double or triple taps on their device to make sure their input goes through. Coincidentally, I see Windows users do this all the time too.
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And iOS users dont? My friends don't use apple very much but I have a friend with iFon 4S, and I always remember he is tapping one or more times OS to recognises his touchs. This is just a part, you are total apple "lover" on your review.
I just aggree about software keys, they suck.
we might be seeing an 8’ iPad for as little as $250-$300 then I really don’t see anyone picking the Nexus 7 over an iPad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you really have a hope to get an Apple device for $250? Good luck
I am really bored of reading Apple fans reviews. They are way too "fair".
Low end Chinese tablets already hitting sub $150. This is powered by dual cores A10, 50nm. By the time apple fans done waiting for magical mini iPad to show up, low cost chinese tablet will be dual core, 40nm. 1.2GHz or so. (in other word, current high end iPad.) Allwinner is already reported to work with ARM creating next generation low cost CPU.
Apple has zero chance winning price war competing against Android.
On the high end side, apple has no chance catching against android either on GPU front. Apple doesn't have its own architecture (as oppose to nVidia, qualcomm/ati, or samsung) Apple's chip will always have bigger size, use more power, running hotter, expensive to make, compared to same fabrication node. Apple CPU is the Chevy Suburban of CPU world.
some battery comparison
iPad3 ...11666 mAh
Nexus7 ...4326 mAh
Transformer TF700 ...6757 mAh
Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 ...7000 mAh
I'm going to say this for everybody and also as a former apple fan who has seen the light.
"Who gives a sh*t about an iPad users lame opinion about an open os and a powerful device too complicated for simple minded sheeple!"
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I take the points about the soft buttons, but the touch responsiveness on my N7 is great. I think you might have a defective device?
Project Butter: While 4.1 (and the Nexus 7) is the smoothest, fastest, and most consistent Android experience I’ve had; the first iPhone with iOS 1.0 still puts it to shame. When I bought the first iPhone I came from a flip phone. No “smart phone” (I use that term loosely for pre-iPhone smartphones) no BlackBerry, no PDA. So everything with the iPhone was eye-opening for me, and for a lot of people. For me though I was amazed at the UX (user experience) of the OS. Swiping in apps, pinch-to-zoom, double-tab-to-zoom, and the rubber band effect in lists impressed me to no end. Apple dedicates a certain percentage of resources to the UX to keep it smooth and responsive, and they have since day one. My number one complaint with Android has been their touch responsiveness, or lack there of. With “Project Butter” it is much better, but no where close to iOS. If iOS is a 10, I’d rate 4.1 (on the Nexus 7) at a 6 or 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seriously mate
you have the iBug therefore you can never review android fairly
iUsers somehow mix nostalgia with facts with delusions with whatever and hey presto, iPhone 1 was running at 60fps on it's thermo nuclear processor haha
iFanBoys just stick to your devices, bias people shouldn't write reviews. Go away
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Seriously, 4 out of the 5 first bullet points were "this is not like the iPad; I don't like it".
As for the remaining one, I don't actually trust someone who tries to compare speed by eye; unfortunately, as hamdir hinted, this is subject to way too much confirmation bias.
---
Soft buttons are, in fact, an insanely good idea (though I admit they might be ahead of their time), because they're the only type that can be significantly modded. I'm still waiting for rob43 to get a N7 so that he can port over his Salad Bar II. And without softkeys, you can't implement features like edge swiping to bring up/hide the nav bar like in Glazed ROM; you're just stuck with an inflexible button orientation forever.
Finally, I can't honestly believe you're advocating reaching up to God-knows-where in each app just to hit a back button. If you really want to reach around everytime because that's what you do in iOS, then good for you; I'll be sticking to the back button that's near my fingers, tyvm.
thebobp said:
Seriously, 4 out of the 5 first bullet points were "this is not like the iPad; I don't like it".
As for the other one, I don't actually trust someone who tries to compare speed by eye; unfortunately, as hamdir said, this is subject to way too much confirmation bias.
---
As for the back button, I can't honestly believe you're advocating reaching up to God-knows-where in each app to hit a back button. If you really want to reach up everytime because that's what you do in iOS, then good for you; I'll be sticking to the back button that's near my fingers, tyvm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Exactly what I thought. It seems like you're (OP) trying to be fair and professional but actually have an extreme bias and are giving cons because it's not like what you like, its competitor.
Sent from my Nexus 7.
Was this written by Apple!
There is no comparison iPad3 is £600 for top spec and Nexus 7 is £200, iPad3 is not 3 times better or worth 3 times as much!
Apple doesn't even have a product to compare to, closest would be iPod Touch.
iOS and Android both have strengths and weaknesses.
iOS is aim at the less technical consumers who needs big buttons, iTunes and want things to just work.
Android is Open Source and is aim at consumers with more technically knowledge & providing the ability for customisation.
I no longer own any iOS devices (previously iPhone4, iPad2) this is because every revision of iOS, Apple has locked that the OS even more.
- Example: you can no longer have direct access to GPU
- My £400 iPad2 cant play 1080p out of the box, iTunes movies are 720p, where as Nexus 7 plays both straight up at half the price.
Also, Apple hardware is old tech (they have never been cutting edge, they are more of a marketing company than tech)
They just take existing tech and put together in a shinny Apple stamped case and sell it to morons who are happy to queues for days and pay 3 times the price.
What a tool. Save yourself time. You can sum it up in a sentence.
"it's not like an iPad".
Man. No offense but your "review" sucks... Maybe you are better in some other crap then doing technical reviews.
You compare the nexus 7 to an ipad mini which we don't even know for sure there will be one, but and you are already able to mention how good it will be and what will be the price?
If you want to sound like an expert. Try to root your device, try to download a torrent file while you are browsing and synchronizing some folders of your computer with some of your nexus. Try to put a firewall where you decide what apps can read which informations about you. Try the SwiftKey keyboard, and some nice widgets. Go to your home server folders over VPN or ftp to stream your movie collection.
Do it on your ipad
I will order a nexus 7 as soon as it is available in my country.
Sent from my cyanogenmod 9 powered GT-I9000 using xda app-developers app
Here's a hint, the Nexus 7 shouldn't be compared to an ipad. They are two very different devices.
Guys, there are some people who will follow the Apple train to the grave. Let him have his review and rows of icons, while you customize and multitask for half the price.
Apps: With the Nexus 7 having such great specs, I was hopping to really see what kind of muscle it had while at the same time checking out some great Android apps. I had a very difficult time finding quality apps in the store; made for a tablet. All the basic apps were there: twitter, Facebook, Dropbox, Netflix, kindle, but they all just seemed like phone apps stretched out. This usually results in large blank spaces and awkward buttons that are too big or too small for what they should be. Then the amount of apps is stunningly small. I have heard this before, but seeing it, was still shocking. I didn’t think it was THAT bad. Doing a search for a twitter app gives you maybe 3-4 usual apps, none that I liked. Next I looked for a Dropbox text editor and I found one. This is a category that is flourishing on iOS. There is an insane amount of Dropbox/markdown/iCloud text editors on iOS. Google Reader which I used everyday had a few very crappy apps in the store not including the built-in official Google Reader app in 4.1, which sucks as well.
---------------------------
anybody know what this notepad/dropbox text editor he is talking about? Why can't he use random text editor and save it to drop box? It's hard to reply since he doesn't clearly say what app/specific feature he is looking for/what is his iPad app list. I thought just about any notepad sync with dropbox these days...
Hell there is one done by xda forumer too.. (Why can't he simply google 'android notepad dropbox'?)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865456
the store search says 137...(discounting 4.1 filter. but I assume they all work in JB. How much more notepad choice does he need? if he needs something more complicated, he is looking for different tool.)
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=notepad+dropbox&c=apps
and there is 1000 entry for anything related to Tumblr. (I assume he is using notepad to collect material for tumblr, since he is on one) There got to be something in there for his need...
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=tumblr&c=apps
Also, what exact "reader" he is looking for? general RSS? There should be plenty of option than google reader.

What fun things can I do, other than emulators?

I have an iPad 4th gen, snagged the Nexus 7 32gb for emulator use and to tinker with.
4.1.2 (as 4.2 broke sixaxis for me).
what other fun things can I do other than NES/SNES/PSX emulation?
what can this thing really do that an iPad can't at this point?
Thanks guys! Digging my first android Tablet thus far!
Download a dosbox application and play older PC games.
Download GrooveIP lite (free) and grab a free Google voice number to turn your tab into a giant mobile phone.
Download a GPS app, get a mount for the car and have a nice 7" GPS with 3d turn by turn nav. I use copilot with the north american maps - activated 3d and voice turn by turn for $7.99.
Just a few I can come up with off the top of my head.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
NicotineCanada said:
I have an iPad 4th gen, snagged the Nexus 7 32gb for emulator use and to tinker with.
4.1.2 (as 4.2 broke sixaxis for me).
what other fun things can I do other than NES/SNES/PSX emulation?
what can this thing really do that an iPad can't at this point?
Thanks guys! Digging my first android Tablet thus far!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not much really u got basicly a premium experience with the iPad, but one thing u can do that's unique is try out different launchers to change the look of your homescreen/app drawer, you can change icons,layout,etc. And if you really want to get down and dirty with theming you can flash a custom Rom with a theme manager and in the play store there are a bunch of themes to try to ur liking just be sure to make sure the theme is cm10 compatible, glad ur liking ur nexus 7
Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app
Google "Tasker". It lets you program your tablet to do pretty much anything.
Mine sounds Ships Bells every half hour, turns off wifi at night, starts the music player when I plug in headphones, and interfaces with RFID cards.
On my list is to have the tablet respond to a text message with a message giving a Google map showing its current GPS location,
and maybe a photo of its surroundings. Sky is really the limit.
And calling the iPad a premium experience is really a matter of taste. It would not be to me.
rmm200 said:
Google "Tasker". It lets you program your tablet to do pretty much anything.
Mine sounds Ships Bells every half hour, turns off wifi at night, starts the music player when I plug in headphones, and interfaces with RFID cards.
On my list is to have the tablet respond to a text message with a message giving a Google map showing its current GPS location,
and maybe a photo of its surroundings. Sky is really the limit.
And calling the iPad a premium experience is really a matter of taste. It would not be to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I respect your opinion on the iPad. Before hating on the apple bandwagon, the iPad 4th generation is VERY slick.
One thing i noticed on the nexus 7 is fast scrolling in apps like facebook isn't fluid. often I find it studders/pauses. Nothing crazy or bad, but if you really sit down with the iPad and keep an open mind - it's a very fluid experience.
The downside is how locked down the ecosystem is, which is where android shines. They both have their pro's and cons. I like them for what each of them have to offer. I'd never limit myself to just one platform. You limit so many possible experiences and gadgets....... and i love me some gadgets
is there xbox media center available for it? it's available on jailbroken iOS devices. I don't see anything for android (i have mplayer and vlc)
NicotineCanada said:
is there xbox media center available for it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep
Cheers,
Daan
NicotineCanada said:
I respect your opinion on the iPad. Before hating on the apple bandwagon, the iPad 4th generation is VERY slick.
One thing i noticed on the nexus 7 is fast scrolling in apps like facebook isn't fluid. often I find it studders/pauses. Nothing crazy or bad, but if you really sit down with the iPad and keep an open mind - it's a very fluid experience.
The downside is how locked down the ecosystem is, which is where android shines. They both have their pro's and cons. I like them for what each of them have to offer. I'd never limit myself to just one platform. You limit so many possible experiences and gadgets....... and i love me some gadgets
is there xbox media center available for it? it's available on jailbroken iOS devices. I don't see anything for android (i have mplayer and vlc)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've come to realize that both platforms have there pros and cons, u can also side load apps instead of going through play store, try out framework tool on the play store if u want to switch animations
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
NicotineCanada said:
what can this thing really do that an iPad can't at this point?
Thanks guys! Digging my first android Tablet thus far!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let you look at the file system. Attach any type of file in an email. Install third party app stores and apps. USB OTG means you can watch anything you have on an external HDD. Hell you can even install and run games with a script from an external drive. There is a ton of things this can do an iPad can't. Not just emulators. Explore.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
ridearoundsolo said:
Not much really u got basicly a premium experience with the iPad, but one thing u can do that's unique is try out different launchers to change the look of your homescreen/app drawer, you can change icons,layout,etc. And if you really want to get down and dirty with theming you can flash a custom Rom with a theme manager and in the play store there are a bunch of themes to try to ur liking just be sure to make sure the theme is cm10 compatible, glad ur liking ur nexus 7
Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
multi-window
pop-out youtube/hd video player window
android beam
you own your device you paid money for
free music / not restricted to i-tunes
nfc / near field communication
wifi direct file sharing with other androids
send an email with more then one attachment
just a few of many .....and none of the above require root.:highfive:
---------- Post added at 11:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 PM ----------
NicotineCanada said:
I respect your opinion on the iPad. Before hating on the apple bandwagon, the iPad 4th generation is VERY slick.
One thing i noticed on the nexus 7 is fast scrolling in apps like facebook isn't fluid. often I find it studders/pauses. Nothing crazy or bad, but if you really sit down with the iPad and keep an open mind - it's a very fluid experience.
The downside is how locked down the ecosystem is, which is where android shines. They both have their pro's and cons. I like them for what each of them have to offer. I'd never limit myself to just one platform. You limit so many possible experiences and gadgets....... and i love me some gadgets
is there xbox media center available for it? it's available on jailbroken iOS devices. I don't see anything for android (i have mplayer and vlc)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XBMC is on android i have it on my iconia a500
i dont want to induce any arguements mate i really dont wanna start anything like that, but you have just hit my pet peeve about apple users.....
to justify comparing a £150 7inch tab to literally the best apple has got.
a £400+ apple device vs. a £150 android and were still giving em a pounding?
i am srry to say it like that i dont mean to direct this at you. it just does get to me , why dont we see anyone comparing the ipad4 with the galaxy note 10.1? because we all know the outcome and appler's dont wanna go there. why is no one comparing the nexus 7 3g with ipad mini? same answer.
chismay said:
multi-window
pop-out youtube/hd video player window
android beam
you own your device you paid money for
free music / not restricted to i-tunes
nfc / near field communication
wifi direct file sharing with other androids
send an email with more then one attachment
just a few of many .....and none of the above require root.:highfive:
---------- Post added at 11:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 PM ----------
XBMC is on android i have it on my iconia a500
i dont want to induce any arguements mate i really dont wanna start anything like that, but you have just hit my pet peeve about apple users.....
to justify comparing a £150 7inch tab to literally the best apple has got.
a £400+ apple device vs. a £150 android and were still giving em a pounding?
i am srry to say it like that i dont mean to direct this at you. it just does get to me , why dont we see anyone comparing the ipad4 with the galaxy note 10.1? because we all know the outcome and appler's dont wanna go there. why is no one comparing the nexus 7 3g with ipad mini? same answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't the note only have a 1280x800 display? I wouldn't compare the iPad to the Note 10.1, the iPad would win hands down. However, comparing the iPad to the Nexus 10 or Asus Infinity would be a much better comparison.
---------- Post added at 03:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:28 PM ----------
NicotineCanada said:
I respect your opinion on the iPad. Before hating on the apple bandwagon, the iPad 4th generation is VERY slick.
One thing i noticed on the nexus 7 is fast scrolling in apps like facebook isn't fluid. often I find it studders/pauses. Nothing crazy or bad, but if you really sit down with the iPad and keep an open mind - it's a very fluid experience.
The downside is how locked down the ecosystem is, which is where android shines. They both have their pro's and cons. I like them for what each of them have to offer. I'd never limit myself to just one platform. You limit so many possible experiences and gadgets....... and i love me some gadgets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your opinion is something I love to see. Its not a blindness Apple hate or Android love, or Android hate and Apple love. You are in between, which is a nice thing to see. I have a similar opinion to you. Apple does some things better, while Android does other things better. This is a much better way to look at things.
n7GU22 said:
Download a dosbox application and play older PC games.
Download GrooveIP lite (free) and grab a free Google voice number to turn your tab into a giant mobile phone.
Download a GPS app, get a mount for the car and have a nice 7" GPS with 3d turn by turn nav. I use copilot with the north american maps - activated 3d and voice turn by turn for $7.99.
Just a few I can come up with off the top of my head.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just installed GrooveIP. I must say, freaking awesome!!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
ÜBER™ said:
Let you look at the file system. Attach any type of file in an email. Install third party app stores and apps. USB OTG means you can watch anything you have on an external HDD. Hell you can even install and run games with a script from an external drive. There is a ton of things this can do an iPad can't. Not just emulators. Explore.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know u can do that with games that's awesome
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
NicotineCanada said:
I respect your opinion on the iPad. Before hating on the apple bandwagon, the iPad 4th generation is VERY slick.
One thing i noticed on the nexus 7 is fast scrolling in apps like facebook isn't fluid. often I find it studders/pauses. Nothing crazy or bad, but if you really sit down with the iPad and keep an open mind - it's a very fluid experience.
The downside is how locked down the ecosystem is, which is where android shines. They both have their pro's and cons. I like them for what each of them have to offer. I'd never limit myself to just one platform. You limit so many possible experiences and gadgets....... and i love me some gadgets
is there xbox media center available for it? it's available on jailbroken iOS devices. I don't see anything for android (i have mplayer and vlc)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The facebook app blows on android
One thing I really like with an otg cable is plugging a digital camera to it and pull pictures off the camera straight to the tablet
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
yanksrock1000 said:
Doesn't the note only have a 1280x800 display? I wouldn't compare the iPad to the Note 10.1, the iPad would win hands down.
Your opinion is something I love to see. Its not a blindness Apple hate or Android love, or Android hate and Apple love. You are in between, which is a nice thing to see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all good buddy
the display yes the ipad has a bit of a better display but really wouldn't you exchange a few pixels or an extra gb of ram?
found this the best comparison as it goes into detail on each area
http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/mobi...g-galaxy-note-10-1-vs-apple-ipad-3.htm?pgno=1
i think the note specs beats the ipad specs:fingers-crossed: lol
thanks for not seeing my post as a-hole-ness

Getting bored with android...talk me out of buying a surface

Been looking at surface rt for fun. They are peaking my curiosity. Kinda bored with android, I had my nexus 7 for 7 months now and its great. Why would I not want to buy a surface rt? They sure are dropping in price fast on craigslist, even the dell xps 10 is now 249-299 brand new with free keyboard covers....... Am I crazy to want a rt?
Should not need to be talked out of anything. If you have the relevent info for both, than get what makes you happy. It is you that has to deal with it, not anyone else.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Then get a Surface. You don't need our permission.
If you are bored with Android, then you are not going to be happy with Windows.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
DroidRunner said:
If you are bored with Android, then you are not going to be happy with Windows.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I'm concerned, "Friends don't let friends buy Windows tablets". At least not now.
I had an RT tablet provided by my office for about a month. They bought one for everyone here because of the integrated Office and the keyboard cover, and they figured it would make everyone's lives easier.
It didn't turn out that way.
I'm not going to crap all over Windows 8/RT, because there are a lot of really good things about it and the build quality of the tablet is mostly nice.
But the three biggest problems:
1. The build quality of the soft cover is poor. In less than a month several of us had the soft cover split along the seams. It typed well, but you still had to be careful, because if you didn't hit the key properly sometimes it wouldn't take. On the whole a lot more work than a real keyboard.
2. Office is there, but it's a lot more awkward to use than I thought it would be. Sure, there shortcuts, but the need to pick your finger up to touch the screen all them time really slows you down. Something I'd eventually get used to, I'm sure, but it wasn't easy.
3. There really AREN'T any apps for Windows RT. Sure there are some, and there are apps that are supposed to do many other things, they just aren't the options I would have picked if there was choice. But the things I love tablets for are the apps and they just aren't there.
I also was really disappointed with how much real memory was left after the OS was taken into account. I would have had to manage my media constantly to make it work for me. Again, possible, but not worth it.
After a month our IT group took them back from everyone and said they were looking for another solution.
So, if you're bored with Android, you maybe should try a Windows Tablet, they aren't boring and they will keep you busy, just maybe not for the right reasons.
^thanks man. Solid points. I think I will wait for the new nexus 7. Glad you have a good response unlike the other posters here. I was concerned about the availability of apps for rt. And I'm thinking developers won't hop on board since it seems to be a hard sell and small user base.
Friend has an RT, I have a nexus 7.
Biggest thing is just the feel. I can pull out my nexus 7 and I have my app drawer full of games, customisable homescreen, many apps and things to play with. It's a fun tablet.
When I play with my friend's RT though, after exploring the start menu and desktop, there isn't really much. Games are lacking (except for the big names like jetpack joyride and other popular games), and there's nothing "fun" to do. The desktop is kind of empty, as it can't run windows apps, so pretty much the only thing that populates the desktop is the internet explorer and my computer icon, and assorted computer folders.
However, the RT does win the nexus 7 in many points. Productivity wise, it's brilliant. Microsoft office works really well, and split screen multitasking is cool. If you get the type cover, it becomes a mini laptop that can run all your office apps. The nexus 7 can never catch up unless a better office app shows up on the market.
So now it depends on whether you prefer fun, or productivity.
Sell it and get the Surface then.
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I just got my N7 last week. Still have no case since there's many choices regarding online but less in stores.
There's a slimline moku and another case I'm torn between.
I also got a Bluetooth Logitech keyboard for typing but not really loving it just yet.
Any who anyone find a keyboard / case solution they are happy with?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
mrazndead said:
Been looking at surface rt for fun. They are peaking my curiosity. Kinda bored with android, I had my nexus 7 for 7 months now and its great. Why would I not want to buy a surface rt? They sure are dropping in price fast on craigslist, even the dell xps 10 is now 249-299 brand new with free keyboard covers....... Am I crazy to want a rt?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you kidding? I've had the opportunity to try a Surface RT, and was happy to give it back to the lender... if you're looking for a windows experience, forget it. It doesn't run any standard Windows programs... the apps it does have are a limited number. The interface is confusing and counterintuitive, and for God's sake, the price is well above what something of its caliberr should run.
I have two cases... and I like both for different reasons.
EeyoreSyndrome said:
I just got my N7 last week. Still have no case since there's many choices regarding online but less in stores.
There's a slimline moku and another case I'm torn between.
I also got a Bluetooth Logitech keyboard for typing but not really loving it just yet.
Any who anyone find a keyboard / case solution they are happy with?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My main case is a leather portfolio style, with the magnets on the cover for auto on and off. It's the standard go to and there are lots around like it. http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=4882380
But my secondary case, which I use for working and productivity was a real find. I bought it off of a recommendation from talkandroid
http://www.talkandroid.com/147462-n...ooks-great-lasts-long-and-costs-little-video/
it was cheap, so I bought it and it works way better than I ever expected in a situation where I need a keyboard. When it's closed it looks great too. You can't really tell from the pictures but the keyboard fits on top of the Nexus 7 to create a kind of hard clamshell for the top of the unit. It's made in a silver plastic with dots that matches perfectly with the tablet.
Unfortunately I have to choose between the cases, I can't use both at once.
PMOttawa said:
My main case is a leather portfolio style, with the magnets on the cover for auto on and off. It's the standard go to and there are lots around like it. http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=4882380
But my secondary case, which I use for working and productivity was a real find. I bought it off of a recommendation from talkandroid
http://www.talkandroid.com/147462-n...ooks-great-lasts-long-and-costs-little-video/
it was cheap, so I bought it and it works way better than I ever expected in a situation where I need a keyboard. When it's closed it looks great too. You can't really tell from the pictures but the keyboard fits on top of the Nexus 7 to create a kind of hard clamshell for the top of the unit. It's made in a silver plastic with dots that matches perfectly with the tablet.
Unfortunately I have to choose between the cases, I can't use both at once.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have on of those keyboard covers. They are such great value for money. And the rechargeable battery for keyboard lasts me literally months off a single charge!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I would get a Surface Pro... if it wasn't so expensive.
If you're bored with android....with all you can do to them.....good luck with anything else.
Sent from my cell phone telephone....
Go get a surface. Someone had to buy one eventually..
Don't expect much thou... There are no apps, it's a battery hog, chock full of manufacturing problems, it won't run windows apps (despite the branding).
surface sucks.
done:victory:
I've heard bad things about surface too, like build quality and that the touch screen isn't so good. About apps, you can pay a visit to windows market place yourself to see.
I'd suggest another option, one of those hybrid tablet/laptops running x86 windows 8.
At the very least, you can run bluestacks or virtual android on it, and have a fully functional PC which transforms into android if you need it.
Of course it's a bit more expensive, but it's not like they are giving surfaces away for free.
I've been getting bored with android too, but that's the phone, I'm keeping my N7 forever
I might get a Lumia instead of my Xperia though.
I really want(ed) a Windows 8 tablet, too.
My problem is that there doesn't seem to be many good x86 ones. There's some meh-priced RT tablets but Windows RT is immensely more limited.
I've completely held off from getting a Windows x86 tablet because every damned one I try out in Future Shop and Best Buy with the Atom are slow, sluggish, freeze often and just seem laggy as hell.
I'm avoiding them all for now, and eyeballing Acer's upcoming 8 inch x86 Windows tablet which may be cheaper and has a small form factor like my N7.
I'm personally waiting a year or two for them to smooth things out. The hardware is too overpriced for what you get and having legacy x86 applications isn't that great when they're not meant for touch. Windows RT is also a joke unless they let devs compile for the desktop. They're totally cool though but not good enough for me.
Hopefully Android x86 will also mature by then so I don't have to give up the ecosystem.

Just picked up a Moto-x Previous iphone 5 user

This is my second "Try" at the android world. I tried out that HTC one X+ last year and had nothing but problems and switched to an Iphone 5.
I am having an issue receiving texts from iphone users (working on that now). Other than that i'm pretty happy with the phone. Speaker quality is a little worse however I expected that. Audio quality while playing through play music was better than iphone IMO (big suprise there).
The otterbox seems well built, however the one for the Iphone 5 is a nicer product, any recommendations for a similar case? I'm a big fisherman and clumsy guy so who knows what will happen.
I still have the crappy camera update (ATT) so I will post some side by side pics there. Any tips on apps other than the normal fb/reddit?
Thanks!
Muffinman51432 said:
This is my second "Try" at the android world. I tried out that HTC one X+ last year and had nothing but problems and switched to an Iphone 5.
I am having an issue receiving texts from iphone users (working on that now). Other than that i'm pretty happy with the phone. Speaker quality is a little worse however I expected that. Audio quality while playing through play music was better than iphone IMO (big suprise there).
The otterbox seems well built, however the one for the Iphone 5 is a nicer product, any recommendations for a similar case? I'm a big fisherman and clumsy guy so who knows what will happen.
I still have the crappy camera update (ATT) so I will post some side by side pics there. Any tips on apps other than the normal fb/reddit?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your receiving texts from iPhone users is probably them being sent to your iMessage account by default... but seems like you might already be aware of this.
Hayaku said:
Your receiving texts from iPhone users is probably them being sent to your iMessage account by default... but seems like you might already be aware of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I should be good now!!
Holy crap swype rocks
A friend of mine cannot text me from his Iphone, however another friend can. It may be going through my e-mail still. Any tips?
Give it time for the cases to come out. Welcome to android. I'm using qmadix case which is a pretty good build but it doesn't have the rugged otter box protection. Also, if you take the time to learn about everything your new phone can do over the iphone you don't ever switch back. Not that iphones aren't amazing because their product is great but if you like making your phone the way you like it, android is the way to go. Most of the apps are pretty similar unless you root your phone and start tweaking it. Maybe someone else knows more android only type apps.
Sent from my XT1060 using xda app-developers app
jayboyyyy said:
Give it time for the cases to come out. Welcome to android. I'm using qmadix case which is a pretty good build but it doesn't have the rugged otter box protection. Also, if you take the time to learn about everything your new phone can do over the iphone you don't ever switch back. Not that iphones aren't amazing because their product is great but if you like making your phone the way you like it, android is the way to go. Most of the apps are pretty similar unless you root your phone and start tweaking it. Maybe someone else knows more android only type apps.
Sent from my XT1060 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Familiar with root and such with my n7 which really turned me onto the android world. The screen is a little bigger than the iphone, however the nexus 5 may be worth the wait.
Muffinman51432 said:
Yeah I should be good now!!
Holy crap swype rocks
A friend of mine cannot text me from his Iphone, however another friend can. It may be going through my e-mail still. Any tips?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just read an article about this but I can't remember where. Was an apple issue with phone numbers still being associated with imessage
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk 4
Turn on Imessge
Edit; sorry pressed enter too fast on the app
Get an iPhone. Turn on imessage. Make sure you give it enough time to fully activate. Send an imessage to said friend
Turn off imessage send text message from iPhone to said friend
Works ?
Go back to moto x. Should be good
Had the same issue with the same phones.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
1eli said:
Turn on Imessge
Edit; sorry pressed enter too fast on the app
Get an iPhone. Turn on imessage. Make sure you give it enough time to fully activate. Send an imessage to said friend
Turn off imessage send text message from iPhone to said friend
Works ?
Go back to moto x. Should be good
Had the same issue with the same phones.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
came here to say this. When my gf's mom switched she had the same issues and Apple didn't even want to help her. She kept telling them her msgs won't come through because they are going to imsg and now she has a galaxy. Apple basically told her it's an android phone and blew her off.
When my gf updated I turned imsg off before had and she hasn't had a single issue. May be a PITA but either get apple customer service to turn that feature off in your acct or get an iOS device on wifi and enable/disable it.
Muffinman51432 said:
Holy crap swype rocks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Swype is the main reason I switched from an iphone 5 back to android lol. That, and Moto X is a beautiful piece of hardware.
I type like a handicap without swype. It's the original way I learned how to type on a smartphone lol. I can also swype a lot faster with one hand then most people type with two.
I don't like Android at all, but being able to type fast is more important to me for the time being.
Android itself is a flawed OS. If it wasn't for XDA I would have never owned an Android device. A lot of the developers on here create tweaks, ROM's, hacks that enhance the device in simple intuitive ways, so much that it puts Google to shame (yea I said it). I mean how in the bloody hell has volume button longpress to change track NOT been implemented in all official ROM's yet? It's so intuitive, easy to implement, test and apply. They built a trillion dollar empire selling the only mobile operating system that still lags in 2013 on EPIC hardware - mind you. I'm sure 99% of people on XDA will disagree with me because MOST people don't notice these things. But for me it drives me absolutely bananas when any 6-$700 Android device in 2013 has less GUI fluidity (in both OS and third party apps) then my first generation dual core Athlon64 PC with 1GB single channel ddr1 memory. I built that system in 2005. Comparing any Android device to any WP7.5, WP8 or ios4+ device in terms of transition animation fluidity and vertical scrolling fluidity is downright embarrassing.
I suppose that's what happens when you build an empire on top of a a landfill :laugh:
Given, the Moto X is definitely the best Android device released to date IMHO.
scorpion667 said:
Swype is the main reason I switched from an iphone 5 back to android lol. That, and Moto X is a beautiful piece of hardware.
I type like a handicap without swype. It's the original way I learned how to type on a smartphone lol. I can also swype a lot faster with one hand then most people type with two.
I don't like Android at all, but being able to type fast is more important to me for the time being.
Android itself is a flawed OS. If it wasn't for XDA I would have never owned an Android device. A lot of the developers on here create tweaks, ROM's, hacks that enhance the device in simple intuitive ways, so much that it puts Google to shame (yea I said it). I mean how in the bloody hell has volume button longpress to change track NOT been implemented in all official ROM's yet? It's so intuitive, easy to implement, test and apply. They built a trillion dollar empire selling the only mobile operating system that still lags in 2013 on EPIC hardware - mind you. I'm sure 99% of people on XDA will disagree with me because MOST people don't notice these things. But for me it drives me absolutely bananas when any 6-$700 Android device in 2013 has less GUI fluidity (in both OS and third party apps) then my first generation dual core Athlon64 PC with 1GB single channel ddr1 memory. I build that system in 2005. Comparing any WP7.5, WP8 or ios device to android in terms of transition animation fluidity and vertical scrolling fluidity is downright embarrassing.
I suppose that's what happens when you build an empire on top of a a landfill :laugh:
Given, the Moto X is definitely the best Android device released to date IMHO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
apple builds one os for one phone with one set of hardware for a pretty similar customer base generally. google builds one OS to send to 100s of phone companies for thousands of phones with millions of different piece of hardware. Those phone companies then implement their own layers of software over it. The way the process is just makes it more difficult. While I agree on some points with you, I think they do a pretty good job considering what they are up against. If google makes an os with all of the tweaks gismos and gadgets then trys to send it to the phone companeis and deal with making what they want to do work with what google's OS does, there would probably be way more issues than we currently have.
edit: I made many generalizations so feel free not to pick and choose little tid bits of info to say how I'm wrong because it was more of just a general synopsis as opposed to an exact layout of how things are.
jayboyyyy said:
apple builds one os for one phone with one set of hardware for a pretty similar customer base generally. google builds one OS to send to 100s of phone companies for thousands of phones with millions of different piece of hardware. Those phone companies then implement their own layers of software over it. The way the process is just makes it more difficult. While I agree on some points with you, I think they do a pretty good job considering what they are up against. If google makes an os with all of the tweaks gismos and gadgets then trys to send it to the phone companeis and deal with making what they want to do work with what google's OS does, there would probably be way more issues than we currently have.
edit: I made many generalizations so feel free not to pick and choose little tid bits of info to say how I'm wrong because it was more of just a general synopsis as opposed to an exact layout of how things are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree.
I'm not trying to be a **** but like... that explanation, that issue, that situation won't make my phone any faster. I understand there are reasons for this problem. But the problem is not fixed.
Come to think of it look at Windows Phones man. WP7.5 and 8 are pretty much the most fluid operating systems I've ever tried, regardless of device. You can find low, mid and high end WP devices. And they are all fluid, responsive and don't drop frames or stutter when scrolling vertically. Not always for the super low end models but you get my point. And I've tried the low end ones in the store as well. If there's one thing MS got right in the smartphone world, it's definitely the fluidity. I'm sorry but if MS can do it, Google could do it as well. But let's face it, you know as well as I do that companies won't change unless people stop buying. And most people don't seem to mind the lack of fluidity and if they do they are using iphones.
And another issue is the lack of...quality play store apps - even the popular ones with 10m+ downloads. Because that dev environment is not as restricted as ios, you see a lot of popular apps like the NOTORIOUS Facebook that takes us back to our windows 95 days where smooth scrolling was a rare phenomenon. In fact I can most likely count on one hand, the amount of times in a day that I have scrolled vertically in FB app without any lag/frame drop/stuttering. People want to say that this is not Google's fault. How is it not their fault if they ALLOWED these poorly done ios ports to make it on the Google Play Store by not posing that many restrictions.
You're absolutely right about the apps. Is really bad. There are some gorgeous android apps that conform to android design guidelines, but most of the main, most popular apps are nothing but iOS ports and look and run like sh*t on android.
As far as fluidity goes, I'm just not seeing it. I have zero lag on the moto x. I didn't have any lag on my nexus 4 either. If you're talking about scrolling in the browser, try dolphin or some other browser.
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk 4
housry23 said:
You're absolutely right about the apps. Is really bad. There are some gorgeous android apps that conform to android design guidelines, but most of the main, most popular apps are nothing but iOS ports and look and run like sh*t on android.
As far as fluidity goes, I'm just not seeing it. I have zero lag on the moto x. I didn't have any lag on my nexus 4 either. If you're talking about scrolling in the browser, try dolphin or some other browser.
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the over all UI is fast. Google did a really good job in that but my concern is about the apps that i use on day to day basis like facebook and twitter. May be coming from an iphone 5 caused this issue as everything on it was buttery smooth not the same in the case of android. There is a third party app for twitter like echofon which is super smooth as in ios but official apps still suck. I hope this would change in coming days. Facebook in browser is smooth and app sucks with dropped framerate and lag.
I have some specific examples:
open dialer, stutters once halfway through the transition animation, regardless if it was running in the background or not
open email, stutters once near the end of the transition animation. opened email again, got a graphical glitch where it bypassed the transition animation completely
scrolling in gmail stutters sometime depending on scroll speed. mid to high speed scrolling stutters. only drops one frame it seems but I can notice it
the first time you start Settings, it skips a frame in the transition animation, after that it's smooth
in google drive if you click on an item and click back, it bypasses all transition and loading animation and roughly reverts to the previous screen
scrolling in sms app drops frames at certain points in scrolling. not as much as other apps, but it definitely does it
scrolling through my alarms slow to mid speed results in back to back stutters until the scrolling stops.
maps stutters when you press locate button while it speeds to your current location. also stutters during transition animation on first open. The ios app google maps is FLUID and butter smooth
gmail widget froze for 1 second while scrolling
Play store stutters consistently while scrolling.
The number of apps that stutter/lag on my iphone 5 (100+ apps) = 0 (zero)
I can't be the only one that notices these things.
sravanz said:
Yes the over all UI is fast. Google did a really good job in that but my concern is about the apps that i use on day to day basis like facebook and twitter. May be coming from an iphone 5 caused this issue as everything on it was buttery smooth not the same in the case of android. There is a third party app for twitter like echofon which is super smooth as in ios but official apps still suck. I hope this would change in coming days. Facebook in browser is smooth and app sucks with dropped framerate and lag.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't do Facebook anymore, but when I did, I used friendcaster... It was very very smooth and had more features.
Sent from my XT1058 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
scorpion667 said:
I have some specific examples:
open dialer, stutters once halfway through the transition animation, regardless if it was running in the background or not
open email, stutters once near the end of the transition animation. opened email again, got a graphical glitch where it bypassed the transition animation completely
scrolling in gmail stutters sometime depending on scroll speed. mid to high speed scrolling stutters. only drops one frame it seems but I can notice it
the first time you start Settings, it skips a frame in the transition animation, after that it's smooth
in google drive if you click on an item and click back, it bypasses all transition and loading animation and roughly reverts to the previous screen
scrolling in sms app drops frames at certain points in scrolling. not as much as other apps, but it definitely does it
scrolling through my alarms slow to mid speed results in back to back stutters until the scrolling stops.
maps stutters when you press locate button while it speeds to your current location. also stutters during transition animation on first open. The ios app google maps is FLUID and butter smooth
gmail widget froze for 1 second while scrolling
Play store stutters consistently while scrolling.
The number of apps that stutter/lag on my iphone 5 (100+ apps) = 0 (zero)
I can't be the only one that notices these things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not kidding when I say I really don't notice but that is probably just because I don't care that much. Scrolling animation I do care about, but I just don't really notice that bad of scrolling animation for much. I mean I hate facebook but I don't use that. And chrome just launched recently so I'm actually pretty impressed with its fluidity at this stage in the development.
But for all that stuff I still think it goes back to my original post. I really don't know how many phones are running windows operating system but I don't feel like it is a lot. They also don't get android apps do they? aren't they getting windows base apps so they don't have to deal with all the issues that come with letting people create apps.
To the issue of google not moderating their app's in google play the way apple does. Apple has one or 5 phones with standard hardware. You will see apps that run perfectly on one android phone but not another. I don't believe google would be able to set criteria that would make all android apps work perfectly on all thousand of devices with thousands of different softwares on them. I'm not saying android are better, as much as I'm saying apple has it so easy. Google can't even control all the software phone companies overlay on their android OS or what hardware they use.
Finally, Ill take the bad with good. I prefer an open app market where someone can create something like better battery stats just because they felt like it and not have to jump through a million hoops. Turns out i has become extremely useful. And if the app sucks let it die. Don't use it. Capitalism lol.
But clearly no one can argue that apple products are not smoother and won't always be smoother than android products. Arguments can be made for nexus and other phones that are built purely for the android OS, but the apps being developed are being developed to work on all android products not just stock android Nexus's so they still will get lag from certain things.
Windows phone is different, closer to iOS. Remember Microsoft forces any manufacturer who makes a wp device to use a specific CPU, specific ram, etc. The OS is written for one device configuration, and just the screen tech can change. Same as Apple basically. I remember when all windows phones were forced to use the Qualcomm 1ghz snapdragon which let's the OS be perfectly optimized to the hardware.
scorpion667 said:
I have some specific examples:
open dialer, stutters once halfway through the transition animation, regardless if it was running in the background or not
open email, stutters once near the end of the transition animation. opened email again, got a graphical glitch where it bypassed the transition animation completely
scrolling in gmail stutters sometime depending on scroll speed. mid to high speed scrolling stutters. only drops one frame it seems but I can notice it
the first time you start Settings, it skips a frame in the transition animation, after that it's smooth
in google drive if you click on an item and click back, it bypasses all transition and loading animation and roughly reverts to the previous screen
scrolling in sms app drops frames at certain points in scrolling. not as much as other apps, but it definitely does it
scrolling through my alarms slow to mid speed results in back to back stutters until the scrolling stops.
maps stutters when you press locate button while it speeds to your current location. also stutters during transition animation on first open. The ios app google maps is FLUID and butter smooth
gmail widget froze for 1 second while scrolling
Play store stutters consistently while scrolling.
The number of apps that stutter/lag on my iphone 5 (100+ apps) = 0 (zero)
I can't be the only one that notices these things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not the only one, most Android users are in denial or have never given the iPhone a chance, I was one of those Android users until I picked up an iPhone 4 a few years ago to resell and decided to give it a try before getting rid of it. I have since had the 4S and the 5. All throughout, I tried going back to android with the GS2, GS3, GS4, Nexus 4, HTC One X, HTC One and now the Moto X. The full Samsung lineup was just terrible and laggy, couldn't stand using either of them for over a week, the HTC one was pretty smooth and the UI was bearable but the phone was physically awkward, the Nexus 4 lasted a day but only because it didn't have LTE, the Moto X is the best Android experience I have had all around, only complaints are attention to detail from Motorola like the wifi icon gap and the terrible AT&T logo (all can be fixed on a rooted device). I see myself hanging on to this phone for a while (I hope). Might just get a 5S for a second device though.
ruskiyab said:
You're not the only one, most Android users are in denial or have never given the iPhone a chance, I was one of those Android users until I picked up an iPhone 4 a few years ago to resell and decided to give it a try before getting rid of it. I have since had the 4S and the 5. All throughout, I tried going back to android with the GS2, GS3, GS4, Nexus 4, HTC One X, HTC One and now the Moto X. The full Samsung lineup was just terrible and laggy, couldn't stand using either of them for over a week, the HTC one was pretty smooth and the UI was bearable but the phone was physically awkward, the Nexus 4 lasted a day but only because it didn't have LTE, the Moto X is the best Android experience I have had all around, only complaints are attention to detail from Motorola like the wifi icon gap and the terrible AT&T logo (all can be fixed on a rooted device). I see myself hanging on to this phone for a while (I hope). Might just get a 5S for a second device though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually find the inverse to be true. The vast majority of android users I know all started out on iOS, myself included... However few iOS users I know have ever tried Android... Perhaps for a day or two then reverted.
The plane fact is that Google/Android does not control the manufacturers desire for hardware, wherein, both wp and apple have a strict doctrine for hardware specs... Even with Windows phones, many have very similar specs or types of hardware technologies that wp7 are specifically designed for. Look what happened when wp7 launched... Nothing was supported, app wise, from previous os versions... This speaks to how much wp is compartmentalized, even though it appears to have a variety of device choices.
This is the trade off that we Android users accept, a truly vast array of device types, having virtually any pick and combination of hardware we want, with an endless supply of new devices, but this leads to fragmentation... Jb really targeted this issue and has done amazing things to close the software compatibility issues between devices from both ends of the spectrum... And I believe it will only get better with each new android version.
Personally, I'll take a little stutter hear and there ( haven't seen a touch of it with the moto x btw) than be told what hardware and what software I can have...
Sent from my XT1058 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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