Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Galaxy Nexus Review by Joshua Topolsky. Mother of God....

In an alternate reality, where iOS didn't exist(or if I was 16 again), I'd be all over the Galaxy Nexus.
Of course, if iOS didn't exist, the Galaxy Nexus probably wouldn't either, but I won't let little things like that get in the way.
A geek's wet dreams come true,

Seriously impressive.
 
Photo Editing

This phone is super sexy! Why can't Apple add more editing software for photos? To do any extensive editing I have to upload to iPhoto on my Mac.
 
We all know that specs don't mean the same thing on an Apple iOS device. Same goes for Mac computers... They run better than their spec list would suggest. IMHO, iOS will always be the best mobile OS.

For me its about the experience, and the iPhone provides an experience unlike any of the competitors.

Then there is the design, stainless steel and glass. Yum.

And lets not forget about the support Apple provides for its products.

iPhone is the only phone that provides the overall experience that I prefer.
 
nraudigy2 said:
ICS looks nice but it won't solve fragmentation of android.
Click to expand...

iOS is fragmented too, and getting more so with each new device.

There are at least 5 different graphic chips on Android. They can't possibly optimize the OS for all those chips.
Click to expand...

Each manufacturer can optimize for what their device uses.

iOS has only PowerVR SGX graphics chips and WP7 with only Adreno chip.
Click to expand...

iOS has multiple versions of GPUs, with differing capabilities. For example, the one in the 4S scores seven times higher in GL benchmarks than the one in the 4.

Game developers are having hard time updating their games to support new phones that come out every couple weeks.
Click to expand...

iOS is not much different, with at least three different screen resolutions, multiple GPU capabilities, and different memory sizes and CPU speeds.
 
After looking at similar scores in benchmark tests, I feel Samsung DIDN'T want this latest Nexus to surpass their flagship phones (S2, Note, etc). They only made it up to par and took out the microSD slot. Still, this is the best Google phone in the Galaxy. By CES and MWC, we will see quad core at 2-2.5 GHz announced. That is likely when the Galaxy S III gets announced. I hope next year that Google lets another manufacturer make a Nexus phone. Likely Moto. I still feel there is a much worthy upgrade coming from Nexus S to Galaxy Nexus compared to coming from an iPhone 4 to 4s.
 
Feltzem said:
Although I've never really liked Android, I must say ICS has fixed most of the issues, and the Galaxy Nexus hardware looks great. But the thing keeping me with iOS is the ecosystem. I must have spent $thousands on apps since 2008, with iTunes Match all my music's in the cloud, and I love how seamlessly everything works between my iPhone and Mac.
Click to expand...

have you really spent thousands on apps? What kind do you have?

----------

I am by all likelihood getting the Nexus. I was waiting for the iphone 5, but decided to pass on the 4s until the next iteration.

Even with the Nexus, I find myself conflicted between this and the iphone despite my personal opinion that the OS has grown stale over the years. Don't get me wrong: I am trying to say it is great, just that the incremental updates haven't been enough for me.

But still, even with all the advances Android is making, I still find myself comparing it to the iphone, which goes to show just how great it is.

As soon as some big changes come to iphone (4G and a bigger screen, maybe widgets) I am jumping back though. There is a certain special feeling you get with the iphone that I just don't get with Android despite its many advantages.

Anyways, people need to stop with the bickering over which is better. They are both great. Each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
 
There are pros and cons to every device. There's something for everyone, which is a good thing. People bag in android devices like there is never any problems with iPhone or iOS. Take a look around the board, clearly the 4s and ios5 have proven otherwise.
 
Looks like a good phone. Too bad Android is made by geeks with little appreciation for design.
 
woz_and_us_2_large_extra_large.jpg


lol
 
The size kills it for me. I don't want a phone that big, plus I always have to have a case on my phones so it'd be even BIGGER. I couldn't imagine a belt clip for that monster :eek:

Impressive specs, nonetheless. But not for me...
 
For anyone who's interested, this article sums up what's been going on at the Android forums, and is aligned with my personal opinion about how Google is handling their Nexus line.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/The-changing-face-of-Google-Nexus-brand_id23898

I was hoping the Nexus would be Google's "iPhone" and for a while, it looked like it was shaping up to be that way. This carrier-branding and carrier-bloated concession by Google is a travesty to what the Nexus line should be.

If there's one thing admirable about Apple, it's that they don't compromise on these sorts of things.
 
Went to see one today and it looks nice but the back of the phone is more greyish than black and I don't really like that. :(
 
macinnv said:
The bloatware is a moot point it seems. In 4.0 you can uninstall any app. Josh Topolsky's interview w Matias Duarte (android exec) confirms this-

"Matias tells me that starting with Android 4.0, users can uninstall any application they like, such as the native browser or email client — and that seems to go for carrier software as well."

Link:
http://www.theverge.com/2011/10/18/exclusive-matias-duarte-ice-cream-sandwich-galaxy-nexus/
Click to expand...


This is not true, and has been confirmed by the XDA community. The two Verizon apps are uninstallable. They can be disabled and hidden, but it is not full removable. EDIT: Uninstallable without unlocking the boot loader, that is.
 
I thought about getting the Galaxy Nexus but a few things changed my mind. The $300 price tag, the fact that the Verizon LTE version is significantly thicker & heavier than the GSM version, Verizon snuck bloatware (Yea yea, it's just backup assistant & My Verizon.. but it still irks me), and the back is made of cheap-feeling plastic. I have a hard time paying $300 for a device that feels cheaper than an iPhone.

Oh, and I've been using a DROID X for the last year or so and I'm not crazy about the Android ecosystem. Updates are hit or miss (the majority of the updates from VERIZON have added more bugs than fixes).
 
onthecouchagain said:
This is not true, and has been confirmed by the XDA community. The two Verizon apps are uninstallable. They can be disabled and hidden, but it is not full removable. EDIT: Uninstallable without unlocking the boot loader, that is.
Click to expand...

Ahh I see. Well good thing I wouldn't be getting the Verizon version. I would get an unlocked GSM version if it comes to the US.
 
chrball said:
I thought about getting the Galaxy Nexus but a few things changed my mind. The $300 price tag, the fact that the Verizon LTE version is significantly thicker & heavier than the GSM version, Verizon snuck bloatware (Yea yea, it's just backup assistant & My Verizon.. but it still irks me), and the back is made of cheap-feeling plastic. I have a hard time paying $300 for a device that feels cheaper than an iPhone.

Oh, and I've been using a DROID X for the last year or so and I'm not crazy about the Android ecosystem. Updates are hit or miss (the majority of the updates from VERIZON have added more bugs than fixes).
Click to expand...

the Verizon version is something like 0.5 mm thicker. That's hardly significant according to many reviewers.

$300 is the standard for any flagship phone. I don't understand the complaints here coming from both sides (Android fans and iphone fans).

Any app is uninstallable on Android once rooted.

I agree that the ecosystem is not up to par with apple in terms of quality of apps yet, but it is catching up and doing so quicker. Also, Android has completely revamped the marketplace and i think it is more organized than apple's now. Give it a couple of years and it will be the dominant market. Also, Android has apps that can modify utility settings and themes--something iOS apps can't do outside of the jailbreak community.

As for cheap hardware, it's true samsung uses plastic and it feels no where near iphone level. Not much to say there except that it's true that Apple has the best fit and finish/materials and arguably design.

Personally, I will be looking forward to the notification LED, 4G and removable battery on the Nexus. It won't be as pretty as an iphone, but those utilities make it much more useful as a mobile device (for me).
 
I want a Galaxy Nexus. Rather, I'd like to try a Galaxy Nexus. My 4S is the first iPhone (owned em all) that I am pretty bored with.

Anyone in the US used one yet? I'd buy the unlocked version if it was available here. Any word on a release date or price? I've heard $600+.
 
Probably the best thing about ICS is that is has had major input from the developer of WebOS; that's obvious in watching the videos, with easy sweeps closing each app. And that is one of the most ridiculous aspects of iOS...the inability to clear an app easily. And then of course there is the miserable notification options. Still reasonably happy with my first iPhone, however. I spent a lot of time trying to decide, but I hate Android. Sounds like it's getting much better.
 
Pretty crap that verizon put their junk on it....i got my Nexus today,and here in the UK completely bloatware free whichever carrier you got...and although its a big phone compared to my 4S,I'm sorry to report on this forum that it is a much better phone than my 4S,brilliant screen,fast,ICS is great,and the fact i can put whichever widgets wherever i want and whatever size i want is amazing.....4S now for sale on flea bay....
 
The pic of Woz with a Galaxy Nexus and Google employees doesn't surprise me. He hasn't been with Apple since the 80's, is a tech enthusiast, and just comes off as a nice guy that you can easily approach and talk to. Such a cool guy like Jony Ive. Alot of credit goes to SJ, but hardly any of the credit goes to the other Steve and his engineering brilliance. The Woz also picked up a Nexus One last year and was in line for the 4s last month. His heart is still with Apple but the geek in him doesn't mind trying out other brands. And Android is catered to tinkerers like him.

Anyways, I think Google needs to have more EXCLUSIVE apps. If they need to take out YouTube, GMail, Maps, Voice, etc off iOS, they should do it. Never update them if they have to. Act like Apple. Google is just too nice that they even let carriers install bloatware. Right now, the essential apps are mostly there in the Android. Some are negligible and some are still better on iOS. The biggest gap is games. But Google has SONY. They need to get Sony to create EXCLUSIVE games for Android. This PlayStation Suite just hasn't taken off yet. Android needs to build exclusive apps similar to what Microsoft needed to with Xbox 360 against Sony and Nintendo that already had stronger third party support.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back