Official ICS & Galaxy Nexus Launch Thread

[cliftonite]

Want ICS and this screen badly but not with this GPU.

 

[bucwylde23]

Want ICS and this screen badly but not with this GPU.

Just curious, what's so bad about the GPU?

 

[redrider4life4]

Did they announce a price for the phone if you don't get it with an upgrade? I'm also thinking about picking up an iphone 4s 64gb model and ebaying it then picking this up for a small profit margin. Iphone 4s seems to be going for around $1000 right now.

 

[seepy83]

Did they announce a price for the phone if you don't get it with an upgrade? I'm also thinking about picking up an iphone 4s 64gb model and ebaying it then picking this up for a small profit margin. Iphone 4s seems to be going for around $1000 right now.

No. In the press conference there was no talk about prices or what carriers the device will be released on, other than a quick mention of the Japanese carrier that will be releasing it.

 

[Red Storm]

ICS seems like a whole lot of basic functionality that has been available to Android users for a long time rolled up into one 'fanboy friendly' package. Half of the major UI 'improvements' have been in bone stock MotoBlur for quite a while- the other half have been in SPB or Honeycomb. Going over every new UI element, watching every video I can- I see *NOTHING* new that isn't already in another Android build. Of course the 'stock Android or bust' crowd is probably seeing a whole bunch of things to be impressed with, those that aren't running around with blinders on..... not so much.

Hardware wise the lack of physical buttons isn't a great idea IMO, although I suppose some may like it. Get a 4.65" screen with less actual screen space then a 4.5" screen? Maybe I'm a bit behind the economic times, but last I knew a piece of plastic was cheaper then display size being equal.

The 720p screen sounds nice, have to see one in person. It's the only part of the phone on a hardware basis that sounds what I would call better then run of the mill. If ICS was running on every current piece of hardware, I don't think the Nexus would be on most people's short list of devices they were interested in(perhaps I'm wrong, but outside of the screen everything else seems inferior, in some cases vastily inferior- to existing high end Android offerings).

I guess it is nice to see some of the functionality that millions of Android users have had for a long time now make its' way down to the lowest end of the informed, the Android 'purists'. Other then that I think the biggest boost to the ICS launch happened over the last month or so with Apple and MS clearly pushing hard to be the next RIM. Hopefully someone steps up here and gives Google a run for their money, they clearly aren't feeling any pressure from the current crop of competitors(maybe Dell will buy WebOS and do something worth while with it).

That's what ICS is all about though, bringing that functionality together in one, stock package. Hand me an Android phone today and I will instinctively start changing a good deal of things to suit my liking. From what I saw in the presentation, I am actually impressed with stock ICS and can't think of too many things I would do to change it.

Not everyone likes to flash their phone, or run skins like MotoBlur and Sense (as well as the developer ones). I am eager to get my Nexus, both for the phone and ICS.

 

[Fefster]

Just curious, what's so bad about the GPU?

It's the same gpu found in the original Galaxy S.Even if it's insanely overclocked it's still last year's tech.By comparison,the SGS2 has roughly twice the graphical processing power,while the iphone 4s surpasses it by almost a 400% margin.

 

[bucwylde23]

It's the same gpu found in the original Galaxy S.Even if it's insanely overclocked it's still last year's tech.By comparison,the SGS2 has roughly twice the graphical processing power,while the iphone 4s surpasses it by almost a 400% margin.

I guess what I'm wondering is how is that really going to affect the use of the phone? Gaming primarily?

I'm sure it has to be fast enough to run the basic UI, if it's just movies/gaming it might affect then I won't worry too much about that since I don't do much of either.

 

[Red Storm]

It's the same gpu found in the original Galaxy S.Even if it's insanely overclocked it's still last year's tech.By comparison,the SGS2 has roughly twice the graphical processing power,while the iphone 4s surpasses it by almost a 400% margin.

So what exactly can I do on the iPhone 400% better than on this Nexus?

You guys are too caught up in benchmark numbers. If the phone runs the OS well (and from what we've seen it certainly does), then we're good. Also the Nexus is a developer phone, it's not meant to be the highest end phone at launch. If ICS runs this well on its "lowly" GPU, that says great things about its performance and optimization.

 

[seepy83]

Has anyone found more articles with info about the new Voicemail feature? Are voicemails sent to the phone as an audio file so that the app can control playback speed (instead of needing to dial in to your voicemail box)? Is this going to require paying an extra fee to your carrier?

I know that other phones already do visual voicemail, but I don't have any experience with it. I have an OG droid on verizon and I refuse to pay my carrier extra per month for the "feature".

 

[Red Storm]

Has anyone found more articles with info about the new Voicemail feature? Are voicemails sent to the phone as an audio file so that the app can control playback speed (instead of needing to dial in to your voicemail box)? Is this going to require paying an extra fee to your carrier?

I know that other phones already do visual voicemail, but I don't have any experience with it. I have an OG droid on verizon and I refuse to pay my carrier extra per month for the "feature".

I believe it was doing it via Google Voice. Which, by the way, I greatly recommend for your OG Droid. It's free visual voicemail, and a host of other nice features.

 

[Demo24]

Has anyone found more articles with info about the new Voicemail feature? Are voicemails sent to the phone as an audio file so that the app can control playback speed (instead of needing to dial in to your voicemail box)? Is this going to require paying an extra fee to your carrier?

I know that other phones already do visual voicemail, but I don't have any experience with it. I have an OG droid on verizon and I refuse to pay my carrier extra per month for the "feature".

No idea, might be closer tie ins with google voice though, which effectively offers this 'visual' voicemail for free.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

sprint?!?!?

 

[Fefster]

So what exactly can I do on the iPhone 400% better than on this Nexus?

You guys are too caught up in benchmark numbers. If the phone runs the OS well (and from what we've seen it certainly does), then we're good. Also the Nexus is a developer phone, it's not meant to be the highest end phone at launch. If ICS runs this well on its "lowly" GPU, that says great things about its performance and optimization.

Well it's meant at least to match the current industry standards.And it doesn't,at least GPU-wise.The much maligned NS was easily at the top of android phones when it launched,even if it wasn't a huge step up from the N1.
I myself have a phone with a really weak gpu(HTC Desire) and while it definitely doesn't hamper the whole experience,it makes 3d gaming a real pain the ass.I'm not a huge smartphone gamer myself,i find it pretty pointless but still it's one less feature.But don't get me wrong,that screen is absolutely amazing and would pick the GN over the IP4s any day.I'm just disappointed.This phone is going to cost over 600€,one would hope they would put a bit more effort into it.

 

[s44]

The Nexus has 192% of the Galaxy S1's GPU power for either 240% or 222% (depending on whether the buttons are hidden) of the Galaxy S1's screen size, so it's only a small downgrade from the previous generation. That still puts it well ahead of the Droid X and iPhone 4 in terms of GPU grunt/screensize, though obviously well behind the Galaxy S2 and iPhone 4S.

 

[Bateluer]

For those that missed it, the entire presentation is up for viewing now.
http://www.droid-life.com/2011/10/1...-event-available-for-everyone-to-watch-again/

Also, here's what ICS will look like on a tablet.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/1...ch-looks-great-on-tablets-heres-the-evidence/

 

[seepy83]

I believe it was doing it via Google Voice. Which, by the way, I greatly recommend for your OG Droid. It's free visual voicemail, and a host of other nice features.

Unfortunately, switching to Google Voice just complicates things. If I port my existing cell # to google voice, then I would need to open a new account with Verizon and loose my grand-father'd unlimited data. If I create a new google voice #, then I need to notify lots of people of the new #, and I haven't seen anything compelling enough to make me want to go through the hassle of giving a new # to everyone that calls me.

 

[Anubis]

you dont need to port your number to use GV as your voicemail

 

[Red Storm]

Unfortunately, switching to Google Voice just complicates things. If I port my existing cell # to google voice, then I would need to open a new account with Verizon and loose my grand-father'd unlimited data. If I create a new google voice #, then I need to notify lots of people of the new #, and I haven't seen anything compelling enough to make me want to go through the hassle of giving a new # to everyone that calls me.

You don't need to give people the new number. I have my original cell number, and a GV number. I am able to use the visual voicemail for my original cell number. Just set your voicemail service to GV on your phone.

 

[finbarqs]

still glad i went with my IP4S... i do like the curved display...

 

[jalaram]

As silly as it sounds (since it's an ancient phone now), I'm hoping they offer ICS for my Nexus 1 as well.

 

[Krynj]

Unfortunately, switching to Google Voice just complicates things. If I port my existing cell # to google voice, then I would need to open a new account with Verizon and loose my grand-father'd unlimited data. If I create a new google voice #, then I need to notify lots of people of the new #, and I haven't seen anything compelling enough to make me want to go through the hassle of giving a new # to everyone that calls me.

You don't seem to understand what Google Voice is.

You're not changing carriers, changing plans, or anything -- there's no porting. You still have your voice and data plan through VZW. Google Voice is just a 3rd party service that operates beyond your wireless service. VZW would never know that you're using Google voice. It's totally free, and pretty useful to some people. The scenario you've provided above is the exact reason why Google voice exists. I would research it a bit more. It's actually quite hassle free.

 

[seepy83]

You don't seem to understand what Google Voice is.

You're not changing carriers, changing plans, or anything -- there's no porting. You still have your voice and data plan through VZW. Google Voice is just a 3rd party service that operates beyond your wireless service. VZW would never know that you're using Google voice. It's totally free, and pretty useful to some people. The scenario you've provided above is the exact reason why Google voice exists. I would research it a bit more. It's actually quite hassle free.

I'll have to look into it more. I signed up for a Google Voice account back around the time it launched...Aug 09 I think was when I got an account. I distinctly remember needing to sign up for a new phone number (which I did and have literally never used), or port an existing number over to it (which I assumed would terminate the account for that number with my existing carrier).

 

[s44]

Just install the GV app on your Droid and all will be clear.

 

[Red Storm]

I'll have to look into it more. I signed up for a Google Voice account back around the time it launched...Aug 09 I think was when I got an account. I distinctly remember needing to sign up for a new phone number (which I did and have literally never used), or port an existing number over to it (which I assumed would terminate the account for that number with my existing carrier).

You do need to either port a number or get a new one, but you don't have to actually use the GV number.

 

[MrX8503]

Looks like ICS takes ideas from other competitors, which is a good thing if it improves their OS. I like the screen of the Galaxy Nexus and ICS, but everything else is only meh. I still think the SGS2 is the better device, if it only had 720p, then it would be killer.