Phones Nexus 4 owners/discussion thread.

[mattopotamus]

I have an NFC tag at my front door, whenever I come home, I tap it to turn my N4's wifi on, and vice versa when I leave. I try to be on wifi as much as possible, even though I have the old unlimited data plan, there's no point in testing it.

Another way I keep my battery lasting is the screen brightness. I keep mine way down. Unless you're outside all day, there is no reason to keep it any higher than this:

And even if you are outside, it only needs to go up a little.

I have not noticed really a difference at all in battery if I leave WiFi always on or turn it off when I am not connected.

 

[Sylon]

I have not noticed really a difference at all in battery if I leave WiFi always on or turn it off when I am not connected.

I haven't either, I do it more for other reasons. My phone keeps trying to connect to open connections when I'm out, and my garage is on the outter fringe of my home's wifi signal and my N4 struggles to connect to it. So I just turn it off when I'm out.

 

[Lava Lamp Freak]

I have had an awful experience with Google customer support as well. My inbox had over 70 emails from them with countless lies on when I would get my replacement Nexus 4. It arrived 3 weeks later than it was supposed to. So thanks to all of the liars at Google, I was without my Nexus 4 for 3 weeks.

I also had a less than desirable experience with Google's customer support. I requested an RMA for my Nexus 4 on February 4th. A week later my RMA was approved and I sent it back. They received it on February 13th, but I didn't get my refund until March 6th. So, it was 30 days from when I requested to return it until I received my refund.

Another way I keep my battery lasting is the screen brightness. I keep mine way down. Unless you're outside all day, there is no reason to keep it any higher than this:

And even if you are outside, it only needs to go up a little.

That is your preference. In my week of use, I tried various brightness settings. I like my brightness way up. Telling people to use your low brightness setting doesn't fix the poor battery life on stock for people like me who like bright screens.

 

[Tinmania]

I haven't either, I do it more for other reasons. My phone keeps trying to connect to open connections when I'm out, and my garage is on the outter fringe of my home's wifi signal and my N4 struggles to connect to it. So I just turn it off when I'm out.

God I hate that. I wish there were two "on" modes for wifi: one that is like it is now and another that will NOT auto-connect to wifi networks that require logging in/agreeing via a captive portal.

Happened to me last week at a mall.... was not able to send/receive Whatsapp messages because it was waiting for me to login to an at&t hotspot (that I would have been out of range of in just a few minutes anyway).



Michael

 

[mattopotamus]

God I hate that. I wish there were two "on" modes for wifi: one that is like it is now and another that will NOT auto-connect to wifi networks that require logging in/agreeing via a captive portal.

Happened to me last week at a mall.... was not able to send/receive Whatsapp messages because it was waiting for me to login to an at&t hotspot (that I would have been out of range of in just a few minutes anyway).



Michael

lol funny that you mention it. I have to disable wifi when at the mall. It literally connects to all of these networks that need a login, and makes it so my internet doesn't work since I am technically on a network.

 

[ChazUK]

Just had a slip scare with my nexus 4. Put it down on an elevated surface on our table without the bumper.

About 5 mins later I heard a clatter as the nexus had slipped off of the surface and landed flat on top of a lemonade filled pint glass sitting next to it.

Must remember not to put slippery phone on the anything without the bumper. The thing is like a bar of slippery soap when it comes to traction.

 

[jrswizzle]

Anyone with the wireless charging orb have trouble with the Nexus 4 sliding off of it?

It's driving me nuts....I'll leave it on the orb, come back and it won't be charged because it slipped down - gonna try another case I have to see if it will add grip and still charge through the case (I'm using the Google bumper now).

 

[ChazUK]

The design has been tweaked to prevent slipping of of flat surfaces it seems!

http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/28/4157304/google-nexus-4-design-tweaks-rubber-nubs

 

[jrswizzle]

The design has been tweaked to prevent slipping of of flat surfaces it seems!

http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/28/4157304/google-nexus-4-design-tweaks-rubber-nubs

Image

Google - you're really starting to piss me off.....

The HTC One is looking increasingly good - perhaps simply because Google has irritated me to no end with its botching of the launch and horrible customer service. I may not even wait or care what the Nexus 5/Phone X look like....

 

[ChazUK]

Google - you're really starting to piss me off.....

The HTC One is looking increasingly good - perhaps simply because Google has irritated me to no end with its botching of the launch and horrible customer service. I may not even wait or care what the Nexus 5/Phone X look like....

Amazing isn't it? This late in the release and its still being perfected....

I wonder if this can be seen as an admission of fault for anyone that has had to pay out for repairs?

For me, this is the best nexus I've ever owned (Nexus One is second, sorry Samsung!) but the issues others seem to be having..... Damn!

 

[jrswizzle]

Amazing isn't it? This late in the release and its still being perfected....

I wonder if this can be seen as an admission of fault for anyone that has had to pay out for repairs?

For me, this is the best nexus I've ever owned (Nexus One is second, sorry Samsung!) but the issues others seem to be having..... Damn!

I personally love the phone itself. The battery life has gotten significantly better for me and I find no other faults with the device (other than its slickness).

I'm just irritated with how Google handles almost everything.....

 

[Vegastouch]

Amazing isn't it? This late in the release and its still being perfected....

I wonder if this can be seen as an admission of fault for anyone that has had to pay out for repairs?

For me, this is the best nexus I've ever owned (Nexus One is second, sorry Samsung!) but the issues others seem to be having..... Damn!

The way i see it, if your going in knowing you are buying a phone with a glass back and you dont put a case on it, its your own fault, and why i passed on one. I dont like glass backs on a phone. Ill take removable plastic everytime.

 

[ChazUK]

The way i see it, if your going in knowing you are buying a phone with a glass back and you dont put a case on it, its your own fault, and why i passed on one. I dont like glass backs on a phone. Ill take removable plastic everytime.

My mishap was caused by the fact I have to remove any casing to dock it with my Philips Fidelio Bluetooth Android docking station.

I popped it off of the dock and put it down (just like i would any other phone) and it eventually slid off of the surface it was on.

I can't say I've had any other gadget so slippery when placed down but I got lucky and it didn't break. Bumper stays on and I no longer use my dock to charge it from now on I think.

 

[Tinmania]

The design has been tweaked to prevent slipping of of flat surfaces it seems!

Might have saved mine.



Mike

 

[mattopotamus]

The design has been tweaked to prevent slipping of of flat surfaces it seems!

http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/28/4157304/google-nexus-4-design-tweaks-rubber-nubs

Image

When I first got the newer ones with that little ridge, I thought it was a mistake haha.

It is way less noticeable than the picture makes it look.

 

[Vegastouch]

My mishap was caused by the fact I have to remove any casing to dock it with my Philips Fidelio Bluetooth Android docking station.

I popped it off of the dock and put it down (just like i would any other phone) and it eventually slid off of the surface it was on.

I can't say I've had any other gadget so slippery when placed down but I got lucky and it didn't break. Bumper stays on and I no longer use my dock to charge it from now on I think.

Oh, ..hmm. Thats why i also dont like aluminum backs. Those are really slippery but i would put a case on that one too. I put cases on all my phones usually for grip and a nit of protection but i dont have one on my GS3 right now because i have a battery cover on it that is leather on the back and it isnt so slippery.

 

[Sylon]

God I hate that. I wish there were two "on" modes for wifi: one that is like it is now and another that will NOT auto-connect to wifi networks that require logging in/agreeing via a captive portal.

Happened to me last week at a mall.... was not able to send/receive Whatsapp messages because it was waiting for me to login to an at&t hotspot (that I would have been out of range of in just a few minutes anyway).



Michael

I discovered another downside yesterday when using my GoPro with the GoPro app. The N4 connects to the camera via wifi coming from the camera. However, the phone thinks that is a data source for other things, like email. However it doesn't work like that. So I didn't get anything sent to my phone until I disconnected from the camera. It essentially shuts off all data services to the phone.

 

[mattopotamus]

I discovered another downside yesterday when using my GoPro with the GoPro app. The N4 connects to the camera via wifi coming from the camera. However, the phone thinks that is a data source for other things, like email. However it doesn't work like that. So I didn't get anything sent to my phone until I disconnected from the camera. It essentially shuts off all data services to the phone.

That is what happens when you are in the mall and connect to the wifi networks that require a log in. If you do not log in, it basically stops all data going to your phone until you either connect by signing in, forget the network, or turn off wifi.

 

[bearda]

I discovered another downside yesterday when using my GoPro with the GoPro app. The N4 connects to the camera via wifi coming from the camera. However, the phone thinks that is a data source for other things, like email. However it doesn't work like that. So I didn't get anything sent to my phone until I disconnected from the camera. It essentially shuts off all data services to the phone.

The other option with the GoPro Wifi Bacpac is to set up a hotspot on the N4 and have the GoPro join it instead. Then your network connection stays up, although it's fiddly.

 

[cynics]

I discovered another downside yesterday when using my GoPro with the GoPro app. The N4 connects to the camera via wifi coming from the camera. However, the phone thinks that is a data source for other things, like email. However it doesn't work like that. So I didn't get anything sent to my phone until I disconnected from the camera. It essentially shuts off all data services to the phone.

Isn't this the way all phones are? I have a remote control quadricopter that uses the iPhone as a controller. I connect to the copter via wifi on my iPhone. At which time I have no access to any other data source.

The phone thinks its on wifi so 3G is off and the wifi can't supply data. So no data.

I couldn't imagine using a go pro or flying a remote control helicopter and wanting to check my email or browse the web. So its not an issue for me.

 

[Tinmania]

I discovered another downside yesterday when using my GoPro with the GoPro app. The N4 connects to the camera via wifi coming from the camera. However, the phone thinks that is a data source for other things, like email. However it doesn't work like that. So I didn't get anything sent to my phone until I disconnected from the camera. It essentially shuts off all data services to the phone.

There is a setting under wifi settings--advanced I believe--that might help with that ("Check for Internet service").

Turning that on doesn't really help much as far as I can see (unless the hot spot is really bad). When I connect to a mall hotspot that requires a login my phone "ASS"umes that Internet is working and blindly uses the hotspot, sans login, effectively killing my internet access.

Maybe it will help though for a camera? (Edit: Duh! I doubt it will help as you do need to connect to the camera!)

This issue has been around since as long as I can remember--since I first got an iPhone in '07--and I find it odd that it has not been addressed better. Off the top of my head I see two ways this could be implemented so that we are not left clinging to Internet-less-wifi.

1.) For hot-spots that don't require a login perform a simple connect or ping to a known internet location. If it fails don't use that wifi network.

2.) Offer an option to not connect to hotspots that require a login. Ideally there should be a way to save those logins in my opinion. The captured portal thing is a kludge.




Michael

 

[Sylon]

Isn't this the way all phones are? I have a remote control quadricopter that uses the iPhone as a controller. I connect to the copter via wifi on my iPhone. At which time I have no access to any other data source.

The phone thinks its on wifi so 3G is off and the wifi can't supply data. So no data.

I couldn't imagine using a go pro or flying a remote control helicopter and wanting to check my email or browse the web. So its not an issue for me.

That's true, normally when filming you wouldn't be checking email or whatever. But, I was filming a time lapse, and had to put the camera in different spots over the course of time. So, my mistake was that I left the GoPro wifi on and my phone connected to it while it was recording these long sequences. I didn't think that it was blocking my phone's internet access until afterwards. I was just too lazy to have to keep setting up the connections every time. Brainfart moment on my part.

 

[Stooby Mcdoobie]

Ordered my Nexus 4 on Sunday and received it on Wednesday. I'm loving it so far. Still trying to find the best APN settings, though (currently using these settings). I came from an S3 on AT&T and averaged around 20-30 Mbps down/10 up. I know HSPA+ isn't as fast as LTE, but I'm only managing 2-3 Mbps on my N4:

Haven't been able to test the new settings anywhere other than my house yet, and I've never really had good AT&T reception here. Hopefully, I will get better speeds at work and when I'm out running errands.

Out of curiosity, what speeds do you all get on your N4?

[edit] Ran a couple more tests. Not sure how reliable http://speedof.me is, but it claims to be accurate.

This is what I get with the default cingular.wap APN:

Finally looks like HSPA+ speeds. Just wish there was another way to test; most of the other apps I tried don't work - speedtest.net app just times out when I use this APN.

Here is what I get with the HSPA+ APN (settings linked above) from XDA:

Result seems consistent with what I get when I run the speedtest.net app.

Will keep playing with it over the next few days.

 

[mattopotamus]

^ those are the APN settings I use and pull 8-12 on at&t.

 

[chrisaster]

Guys thinking of finally flashing my first ROM on the n4 after 3 months of stock. Thinking about going aokp and keeping stock kernel. What do you guys t think? Don't want it to be too much of an effort though.