All Things Android - Apps, Phones, Tablets - Discussion

My friend is waiting for the Moto X to replace his Galaxy Nexus. I thought it was a quad core being an S4 Pro?

 

Watch this be the Motorola that tips the scales. It's got the SoC I want, the camera is a bit odd (10.5MP?! what is that?!), with that combination of battery capacity and SoC it should have stellar battery life, stock Android, and finally... Adreno 320 really deserves a good 720p panel. I mean 1080p is super nice and all, but I think 720p is the sweet spot right now.

This might just be the first Motorola I would actually enjoy.

 

There are two variants of the S4 Pro, one being the more common quad core that you see and for some strange reason, a dual core version that never picked up in popularity. IMO, Android performance doesn't scale well enough past two cores to make a good amount of difference outside of synthetic benchmarks, and for vast majority of users, the dual core version is perfect for them. You're essentially trading two cores for lower power consumption and heat buildup, while not really losing much at all in daily usage scenarios.

I've played with the Xperia SP and to be honest, I didn't notice much difference at all except that it doesn't get as hot and the battery life is much better compared to the ZL. There's a lot of people whining about Motorola's decision going with the dual core variant, but I really think they made the right decision here.

 

It looks like I'm going to be leaving the Android mothership to join the iCult in September when the iPhone 5s comes out. I still believe Android is a superior phone OS, it's just that EVERYONE I know has an iPhone, including my girlfriend who I text pretty much all day.

Also, I don't want to take a chance on another Galaxy Nexus-esque early adopter debacle.

I'm gonna miss it

 

Hey I had like the ultimate Google phone and I ditched it for an iPhone 5.

 

It's my girlfriend's fault, she's like the worst person ever. She also got me started listening to...*gulp* COUNTRY MUSIC.

 

at least it isn't JPOP or hansons -_-

 

I was trying to decide between the S4 Mini and the iPhone 5s for my other phone... but seeing how gimped the S4 Mini got, looks like I'm going Apple.

They should have called the S4 Mini, the S3 Mini... it doesn't have many of the S4 features.

 

Samsung is kind of starting to lose its shine. I'm only going to consider HTC, Sony or ASUS in the next round of smartphones, and I'm getting an ASUS Win8 tablet (VivoTab Smart). It's Atom, but it fits my needs perfectly. A difference of over 500€ between i5 and Atom is useless.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and 10.1 review | The Verge

This is quite a poor review for a supposed high end tablet.

 

^ The second quote sums up the Tab 3s nicely. You have the choice between the Xperia Tablet Z, the new Nexus 7 and that Toshiba tablet with the Tegra 4 for high end Android tablets. If I'm not mistaken, the U.S. market Tab 2 10.1 LTE actually has better specs than the new ten incher.

 

Well, it is The Verge, the site that described the S4 as 'slimy' and 'gross' because it's not made of aluminium


They're clearly not intended to be high-end tablets, the Notes sit above the Tabs in Samsung's range and no 10" tablet with a screen less than 1080HD can seriously be considered 'high-end'.

As for questioning the reason for the Tab3 10.1's existence, it simply shows how inept the writer is. There is a large demand for tablets from non power-users, same as there is large demand for handsets from non power-users, covering all the bases has worked well when it comes to handsets, it will work well with the ever-expanding tablet market too.
The Tab2 10.1 retails for around half the price of the Xperia Tablet Z over here, the Tab3 will settle into a similar price. Yes the Z is a better device but for what a lot of people will use them for, they won't see a benefit to paying the extra money.

 

The Verge has a lot of hate towards plastic and they're very picky with the design language in devices, but their reviews are very well made. I do disagree with what they said towards the S4. I held it in my local store, and it's nearly the same as the HTC One feel wise. Perhaps I was rushing, but that was my thought.

You do have a point tho. Samsung has forgot the power users tablet-wise, but that may change in IFA if they announce a new tablet.

 

There's a lot of bias.
Even Jason was compelled to comment on how pathetic the review of the Note 10.1 was.

For a good review, read GSMArena - I'm not talking about the Tab3s specifically, I've not read their reviews of them, it's simply a general statement of fact.

No they haven't. There's the Note 8 and the Note 10.1 is bound to be updated soon-ish.
That and, if you want to be a tad ridiculous, there's the Ativ Q, the highest-spec Android device in existence.

The point was that the Tab range are never going to be aimed at power users and any review that puts them down because they're not competing with other flagship tablets isn't worth wasting your time over.

 

There's two things here...

1.) There's no real reason to equip the Tab 8 with Exynos 4 DUAL. No reason. A full on Galaxy S III with Exynos 4 QUAD can be had for just a smidge over $400 and it's MUCH MUCH better equipped, even though it's not a tablet. While I can understand the Tab 3 isn't a high-end line, Exynos 4 Dual isn't even mid-range anymore.

2.) I agree with the fact that reviews from The Verge are too blunt and vague. There's no details, only a vaguely written, very personal opinion that they try to push as a "review". Hell, even Engadget has better device reviews at the moment. I would also wait for GSM Arena or Engadget's review. They seem to be FAR more objective, and much less opinionated.

Sidenote... I am slightly disappointed in the Intel based Tab 3 10.1. One would have thought Intel would have really pushed them to make that a nice and smooth device.

 

My impression is that it's an effort to distance it from the Note 8.
I do wonder why they didn't use the same Intel chip as the 10.1 but I'm guessing there's some sort of reason.

Would Intel even have been privy to the development?
Or would it just have been another load of chips Samsung ordered mixed in with all the stuff for their laptops?

 

New Exynos 5 Octa: 20 percent more CPU power, over twice the 3D graphics oomph

A Mali T628. Wow. Isn't that much better than the Adreno 330?

 

Tough call, the Mali T628 has not been used in any retail systems and no benchmarks exist for the series other than the T604 in the Nexus 10. The Adreno 320 and SGX544MP3's performance is nearly the same though, so if Samsung's claim is correct, the 6 core T628 would perform nearly the same as the Adreno 330, which AnandTech benchmarked in preview system a while back and proved it basically doubles the Adreno 320's figures.

In either case, both are a good margin faster than the SGX554 in the iPad 4, which comfortably runs anything without issues. An Adreno 330/T628 6 core in 5-6" screen phone is an emulator enthusiast's dreams.

 

That sounds great. I hope Samsung will fix their big.LITTLE mistakes in the GS4 in regards to power and core management.

 

So, the Droid Mini is basically the Moto X in a different skin?

Same SoC, same screen res, sensors... only thing is this one is for VZW. Seems like it's even the same camera sensor.

 

The Droid Mini is 4.3" and should be about the same size as an iPhone 4/4S. For those that wanted strong performance from smaller Android phone, this is the one.

In comparison to the First, S 4 Mini and One Mini, this Google-rola phone blows them all out of the water.

 

But if you discount size, this is basically it. I'm interested to see how Motorola optimizes for this hardware. And I'm also interested in this "Clearpixel" camera... undoubtedly the same one in the X.

 

No argument there, I do find it interesting that even the Ultra and the Maxx still uses the a 720p panel but it's OLED instead of TFT like the Mini.

Here's a photo taken from the Ultra: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RDX0C8-ZnE-rmOW8zNIXCtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0

Not really anything special IMO, but I guess it's an improvement over the outgoing model.

 

I don't think there's a 4.3" 720p AMOLED panel... Samsung is even using 960x540 on the S4 Mini. Makes me wonder if we'll see one in the future.

About that picture... eww. Reminds me of the Atrix 4G with that color issue. Motorola has serious problems calibrating for blue in their camera firmware.

 

Not sure if this is due to Google's influence, but it looks like Moto dropped the MicroSD card slot for this generation.

Boooo!

 

Oh my. I just realized something. RAZR Maxx with a dual-core S4 Pro and a 3500mAh battery. All the battery lifes.

 

what a beutiful landscaped ruined by a terrible camera

 

Wow. For a flagship smartphone camera in 2013, that's really really bad.

 

You don't think that was bound to happen?

 

AnandTech | Samsung Updates Exynos 5 Octa (5420), Switches Back to ARM GPU

 

Moto X hands-on video leaks, pricing info too - GSMArena.com news

 

Verizon makes Motorola DROID Ultra and DROID Maxx official - GSMArena.com news

So... Quick Glance?

 

Double Booo!

Still not understanding why they would drop one of the best features of Android.

Samsung should start running MS-like commercials with their Galaxy phones showing how you can put an SD card in it.

 

Motorola smartphone cameras have really been mediocre. I kind of wish they would have kept their partnership with Kodak for imaging a'la Nokia and Carl Zeiss.

Simplicity I assume. Users don't need to worry about what's installed where. (things like widgets for apps don't work if the app is on the SD card in most cases)

Also more secure to please the media companies who feel that a SD card slot is a potential piracy vector.*


*yeah i know it's ridiculous but it's not like the media companies have ever let common sense stop them..

 

My girlfriend's mom has a Galaxy S 4...she hardly uses any of the new features on it lol.

 

i don't even know what exists on the new ones ^^

 

LOL @ people on the internets thinking that the Ubuntu Edge will be a Tegra 4 phone. Just LOL.

Canonical would never do something that stupid.

 

Except Carl Zeiss actually make camera optics (aka might actually have some real contribution to Nokia phones' image quality), where as Kodak is just a brand name these days.

 

Google launches Chromecast low-cost TV dongle

BBC News - Google launches Chromecast low-cost TV dongle

 

*Cues 11ty billion new threads on XDA from people asking when their devices will get CyanogenMod 10.2.*

 

10 new features in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean | NDTV Gadgets

 

For me, the screen alone is worth it.

 

Honestly she'd be fine with a Galaxy S. All she does is check email, some Facebook, and very occasionally surf the web. Honestly would have been fine with a GS2/GS3.

 

Have the even said it it'll be ARM or x86? Considering Ubuntu and Android run on each... but Android on ARM is preferable for a number of reasons (read NDK).

 

So I decided to put on CM 10.1 on the Galaxy Nexus I got in today..............only to realize I can't find a freaking microUSB cable in my whole house (my dad, brother both have iPhone 5's).

/facepalm

 

It'll be ARM. Likely Qualcomm because CAF.

I know people with dumbphones that still have microUSB. I am disappoint. So disappoint.

 

Highly considering getting the new Nexus 7. Inclusion of a high-resolution 1920x1200 screen in a 7" package and the addition of a notification light have already addressed two major concerns I had with the original N7.

Only downsides I can think of are 1) no expandable storage (although less of a concern on a tablet, where I probably won't be storing any music--$40 more for the 32GB WiFi variant is lame, though), and 2) no great office suite for Android with perfect compatibility with MS Office. Google Docs and other third party apps like Kingsoft Office are nice, but not a perfect replacement.

That's like the only device cable our household uses anymore. Tablet, phones, ereader, etc, etc. Only exceptions are a 7-year-old LG Shine that my mom uses and... the TI graphing calculators.

 

their patents should be expiring in a few years so we will start to see $20 graphing calculators and not getting high-way robbed from them. Also ones with a better processor that isn't painfully slow to use

 

I generally don't like David Pierce, or The Verge reviews, so I'm kind of shocked to see them give the new Nexus 7 a 9.0/10. That S4 Pro is just a perfect match... great SoC.

Marks a first for ASUS, too... using Qualcomm parts in an Android tablet.

 

Neither do I, he should not be reviewing laptops. Bring back Joanna Stern! David Pierce always pick on the smallest and most pedantic things.