Android OS !

[whs]

Google's mentality sucks - assuming that people are idiots.

 

[noobvious]

Google's mentality behind leaving out a removeable SD slot in the Nexus devices (not sure about the likes of HTC etc) is because it can confuse users as to where their files are when the phone has multiple storage locations i.e. there will be the internal storage for all system, data, some user files, and then the SD card has user files, some app files, and from Android 2.2, data files.

I can understand why they would feel that way. There are certainly many users who would indeed be confused, but to assume the majority of users would be in that category would be flawed reasoning, I think.

Maybe it's just me taking knowledge for granted, but I'm not sure why a user would get confused. Unless the user roots their phone, they can't see any of the storage past the SD card, and everything a user would use is on the sd card anyway (photos, music, videos).

That depends on the device, though. A device with very little internal storage would necessitate putting all user stuff on the SD card, sure. But my phone and tablet both have 16GB of internal memory...with the phone, 10.6GB of that is available to the user, and with the tablet, 12.8GB is available.

My phone runs Gingerbread and is not rooted, and in the USB menu there is an option to connect it to your computer in Mass Storage mode, which is what I choose, and therefore, everything is clearly visible in Explorer when you connect it. I'd illustrate that with a snip but I don't currently have a card in it.

My non-rooted tablet, on the other hand, has never had the Mass Storage option, either when I bought it while it was running Honeycomb, or now with ICS. So initially when you plug it into the computer, you see this....



But one more click and you then see this.....

 

[cytherian]

Sometimes you need to get access to the SD card when the phone has malfunctioned or the battery is exhausted. With internal memory, you're screwed. Or lets say you're traveling and don't have a mini USB cable handy--just pop out the SD card and stick it in a reader or dedicated slot. These are advantages I've thought about off the top of my head, so I'm sure there's more. I've really come to appreciate having removable memory.

 

[noobvious]

Sometimes you need to get access to the SD card when the phone has malfunctioned or the battery is exhausted. With internal memory, you're screwed. Or lets say you're traveling and don't have a mini USB cable handy--just pop out the SD card and stick it in a reader or dedicated slot. These are advantages I've thought about off the top of my head, so I'm sure there's more. I've really come to appreciate having removable memory.

Given the option, I'll almost always choose the device with removable memory...that said, I do still like my iPod Classic, and I liked the iPod Touch that I had before.

 

[whs]

Well, I also thought an SD card slot would be handy. But today the wife bought me a 32GB Nexus 7. I guess I won't have a slot. Now I am on a steep learning curve for Android. Fortunately there are these guys at the Android forum who are very helpful. Nexus 7 - Android Forums

 

[noobvious]

Well, I also thought an SD card slot would be handy. But today the wife bought me a 32GB Nexus 7. I guess I won't have a slot. Now I am on a steep learning curve for Android. Fortunately there are these guys at the Android forum who are very helpful. Nexus 7 - Android Forums

Well, congratulations... Asides from the lack of card slot, that is a nice device. 32GB should be a nice amount of room....my old Touch had that much.

 

[cytherian]

The new iPod Touch is a gorgeous device, more so than the iPhone. Despite the fixed memory, I plan to eventually pick one up. Otherwise, I own 2 different iPod Nano's... the latest being a 6th generation. It's the ideal workout music device, and it surprised me that Apple abandoned the design, opting for the limited operating system in a larger 5th generation form factor (no built-in clip either).

There are some things in favor of fixed memory, in that there's no additional port to collect debris, compromise the internals, and no card to worry about losing. Also, it's great to see how Android continues to improve while not getting too bloated (and you can always opt for rooting, to install a leaner version offered for free by industrious developers), so with those few devices lacking removable memory it's not a huge handicap.

 

[noobvious]

The new iPod Touch is a gorgeous device, more so than the iPhone. Despite the fixed memory, I plan to eventually pick one up. Otherwise, I own 2 different iPod Nano's... the latest being a 6th generation. It's the ideal workout music device, and it surprised me that Apple abandoned the design, opting for the limited operating system in a larger 5th generation form factor (no built-in clip either).

There are some things in favor of fixed memory, in that there's no additional port to collect debris, compromise the internals, and no card to worry about losing. Also, it's great to see how Android continues to improve while not getting too bloated (and you can always opt for rooting, to install a leaner version offered for free by industrious developers), so with those few devices lacking removable memory it's not a huge handicap.

I'm also seriously tempted by that new Touch. I still have all my apps in iTunes from when I had the previous generation Touch, and I like the idea of having both an Android and an iOS device to compare and contrast. Thing is, it's close in price to an iPad Mini.....and there are a lot more tablet-optimized apps for iOS than there are for Android.

But then I think to myself, does one really need two tablets? Part of me say yes, and part of me says no....lol

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Got a Toshiba Thrive 10.1", 32GB Tablet that I rooted and now running ICS.
Smooth running tablet with regular size ports.
The forum has a group of developers who are always try to make different roms and kernels.
DW

 

[noobvious]

Got a Toshiba Thrive 10.1", 32GB Tablet that I rooted and now running ICS.
Smooth running tablet with regular size ports.
The forum has a group of developers who are always try to make different roms and kernels.
DW

Sounds nice! Sometimes I wish I had a larger tablet like that.....but then I think about how much easier mine is to carry around....so I dunno. I guess the best of both worlds would be to have both, but i am not made of money...lol.

 

[cytherian]

The tablet game is really just getting started. Prices will continue to come down as more tablet variants enter the marketplace. What I'm eager to see is the flexible AMOLED screens... you pull out a tab that unrolls a very large and vibrant screen that will turn the tablet into a magnificent large scale display/viewing device.

 

[Dinesh]

How much does the LG Nexus 4 cost in your area?

I have heard that its about $300/$350 in the U.S (sim-free).

Its costing around $425. :shock:

Can't understand why so much of price difference?

 

[whs]

Example: https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_4_16GB?id=nexus_4_16gb&hl=en

In Europe it costs more too. Probably has to do with taxes and marketing. Note that the US prices are always without sales tax which comes on top - normally 6 to 8% depending where you live. But if you buy on-line, you very often do not pay the sales tax.

 

[Dinesh]

Oh I see. Thanks for the info mate.

 

[cytherian]

In the USA, cellular phone prices are usually heavily discounted when you buy the phone through your carrier, as you end up committing to a 2 year contract (which is guaranteed income for them) as a new or renewing customer. But for full retail, they're priced not much different than in overseas markets.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I posted some while ago about running Android ICS (4.0) as a Virtual Machine on a PC -- easy to do -- and you can use a Mouse for the touch screen parts if you don't have a PC with a touch screen.

Not all the apps from Google Play work but enough do to play with it !!.

Here's a link to running android on Virtual Box --you can run it on VMware as well -- just google around.

Run Android 4 ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich) on a Mac or PC with VirtualBox



It's quite easy

cheers

jimbo

 

[cytherian]

^ This is WAY cool, Jimbo! I had no idea there was an Android facilitation possible on the PC architecture. This makes such a great way to do some Internet activity with your computer and keep it completely isolated.

 

[whs]

I ran Android 2.3 in vBox. But I found it quite boring except for the little games. Now I bought a Nexus 7. That is a lot of fun for little money.

 

[Dinesh]

I'm still waiting for Nexus 4 to be launched in India.

 

[whs]

I'm still waiting for Nexus 4 to be launched in India.

Maybe you will get the N7.7 with Android 5.0 that comes out in a couple of months.