HELP...Nexus, MAXX or iPhone4s?

[stenzor]

Text message is via EDGE, not 3G nor cell signal. BTW, you can get dBm to show on an iPhone too.

So since when is EDGE not a cell signal? And yes, I know.. I just never bothered with it.. I'm just saying that I've had the same experience with both. Including talking on the phone, and browsing on 3G (actually that is faster on my GN but that might be due to software).

 

[Thai]

So since when is EDGE not a cell signal? And yes, I know.. I just never bothered with it.. I'm just saying that I've had the same experience with both. Including talking on the phone, and browsing on 3G (actually that is faster on my GN but that might be due to software).

I would be interested if you can get an iPhone 4S on same network in your basement. That would be an interesting comparo in signal strength.

 

[s.m.knipe]

Doesn't Sammy make phones for ATT/TMo first before making them avail to CDMA networks??

Not always, and if that were true it would be industry-wide, not just Samsung
Edit: provided the issue is in fact with CDMA technology

In fact, didn't GN GSM come to US first before its Verizon brother?

Incorrect. GSM GN is still not officially in the US. If nothing else this is reversed because although it launched later, all evidence of the GN of either variety (in Google's launch videos and Romain Guy's videos) prior to release was of the Verizon LTE one, not the GSM one. The fact that the UK got to release the GSM one first is most likely due to bickering over the terms between Verizon and Google.

Apple probably chose ATT in 2007 because they were big, GSM (thus compatible with worldwide networks), and maybe the only one that took the dive into the smartphone idea.

Probably true to the first two points, but AT&T was not the first carrier to have smartphones. Unless I have forgotten about some (and other than all-GSM Europe which had some Nokia devices starting in the late 90's), Sprint was actually the first with some of the early Palm and WinMo phones. I know it's a shocker, but Apple didn't invent the smartphone, they merely re-invented (quasi-created a UI and re-branded it) it.

But to ASSUME that because Apple went with ATT initially that they don't care about phone reception is just mind boggling!

I'm not sure that was his point. Intention is a pale shade of result, and the result was that the iPhone arguably killed AT&T's network (not that it was great to begin with).

 

[Thai]

the result was that the iPhone arguably killed AT&T's network (not that it was great to begin with).

Because it was so busy with tons of iPhone users........again, a network problem, not phone. iPhone is doing a similar job with Verizon and Sprint.

 

[Thai]

Not always, and if that were true it would be industry-wide, not just Samsung
Edit: provided the issue is in fact with CDMA technology
Incorrect. GSM GN is still not officially in the US. If nothing else this is reversed because although it launched later, all evidence of the GN of either variety (in Google's launch videos and Romain Guy's videos) prior to release was of the Verizon LTE one, not the GSM one. The fact that the UK got to release the GSM one first is most likely due to bickering over the terms between Verizon and Google.

But, the point is that iPhone being on ATT first has NOTHING TO DO with anything regarding care for good reception.


Probably true to the first two points, but AT&T was not the first carrier to have smartphones. Unless I have forgotten about some (and other than all-GSM Europe which had some Nokia devices starting in the late 90's), Sprint was actually the first with some of the early Palm and WinMo phones. I know it's a shocker, but Apple didn't invent the smartphone, they merely re-invented (quasi-created a UI and re-branded it) it.

True, but before iPhone, smartphones are niche products. Anyway, the point is that Apple may not have had choices to pick from.

Response in bold.

 

[s.m.knipe]

Because it was so busy with tons of iPhone users........again, a network problem, not phone. iPhone is doing a similar job with Verizon and Sprint.

Agreed, but that doesn't excuse the fact that iPhone users from 2007 - 2011 had poor reception and couldn't make a call. My N1 during an overlapping period (during 2010) was perfectly fine, so it was not entirely the network either...

 

[jinwons]

Because it was so busy with tons of iPhone users........again, a network problem, not phone. iPhone is doing a similar job with Verizon and Sprint.

If you like, respect Apple/iPhone so much and hate Nexus, android, why do you waste your time here? I don't think anyone here will ditch nexus for iPhone based on your comments no matter how hard you try.

 

[Thai]

Agreed, but that doesn't excuse the fact that iPhone users from 2007 - 2011 had poor reception and couldn't make a call. My N1 during an overlapping period (during 2010) was perfectly fine, so it was not entirely the network either...

My father has 3GS on ATT...reception was/is fine. I believe that the iPhone 4 was the big culprit of bad reception, which was fixed with the Verizon version.

 

[s.m.knipe]

But, the point is that iPhone being on ATT first has NOTHING TO DO with anything regarding care for good reception.

You bring up the care issue repeatedly, his point was that it in fact doesn't have good reception, and you jumped to assume that he meant that Apple hates users. He was arguing that it was the most economical choice, with a poor result. To assume that he is implying the intent side of the coin was and is a logical fallacy, that was not part of his argument, nor the issue at hand.

Anyway, the point is that Apple may not have had choices to pick from.

If I were a bettin' man I'd wager that they bid it out and approached at least Verizon as well, and tried to find the carrier that would be the most flexible for their restrictive guidelines. But maybe not, as AT&T was the only large GSM carrier at the time there would be less of a change to make an international version. At the time AT&T did have the largest build-out, and so probably thought they had the back-end to support this unknown "niche" device (as it was perceived when it launched), and so had nothing to lose (and some to maybe gain) by having it. At the end of the day, they still chose AT&T for whatever reason (they could have launched in Japan and western Europe with likely similar success, especially following so closely to the launch of the iTouch there).

 

[Thai]

If you like, respect Apple/iPhone so much and hate Nexus, android, why do you waste your time here? I don't think anyone here will ditch nexus for iPhone based on your comments no matter how hard you try.

Just discussion man...don't take it personally. Obviously, there is a lot of misunderstanding here about other products not named Nexus.

And yeah, i do have a Nexus product....

 

[s.m.knipe]

My father has 3GS on ATT...reception was/is fine. I believe that the iPhone 4 was the big culprit of bad reception, which was fixed with the Verizon version.

It was, I'll bet it was resolved with a little insulator and/or a ground between the two antennae sections

 

[Thai]

You bring up the care issue repeatedly, his point was that it in fact doesn't have good reception, and you jumped to assume that he meant that Apple hates users.

my point was that they are NOT about making a great phone for making phone calls. If they were, they wouldn't have put it on AT&T.

Well, how do we know that there weren't other criteria to be met?? To assume that Apple didn't care about phone useage because they put it on ATT is equally wrong.

If I were a bettin' man I'd wager that they bid it out and approached at least Verizon as well, and tried to find the carrier that would be the most flexible for their restrictive guidelines. But maybe not, as AT&T was the only large GSM carrier at the time there would be less of a change to make an international version. At the time AT&T did have the largest build-out, and so probably thought they had the back-end to support this unknown "niche" device (as it was perceived when it launched), and so had nothing to lose (and some to maybe gain) by having it.

Good theories...i agree.

It was, I'll bet it was resolved with a little insulator and/or a ground between the two antennae sections

Yup...that little break in the antenna ring solved the problem (as does adding a bumper to ATT iPhone 4). Not a deal breaker...as iPhone 4 sales were sky high. Can you say the same about GN reception issues?? Is it an easy fix?? The good thing is that Apple continues to improve cell reception...including further improving antenna for 4S.

Sammy has been in a rut with crappy cell reception from day one till now. My Samsung Epic 4G sucked. My Nexus S 4G is equally crappy (or even worst i think). And now, GN radios are seemingly equally flawed.

Link: Nexus S suffering from random data loss, reboots? (updated: fixes coming!) -- Engadget

Sounds familiar?? In fact, just last night, my Nexus S 4G could not get Wifi signal...standing right next to the router! I had to...you guess it...reboot the darn thing!

And for those newbies, those issues reported above were NEVER fixed, despite "updates" from Google. As noted in the past, one of those "updates" actually killed tethering! Nice!

 

[s.m.knipe]

Well, how do we know that there weren't other criteria to be met?? To assume that Apple didn't care about phone useage because they put it on ATT is equally wrong.

Good theories...i agree.

Yup...that little break in the antenna ring solved the problem (as does adding a bumper to ATT iPhone 4). Not a deal breaker...as iPhone 4 sales were sky high.

Still a pretty obvious design flaw to have to be worked-around such a major device/company; especially one that tries to posit a "just works" brand. Samsung and Google (themselves, not fans) do not try to sell perfection (which is always a hard sell).

Can you say the same about GN reception issues?? Is it an easy fix?? The good thing is that Apple continues to improve cell reception...including further improving antenna for 4S.

Sammy has been in a rut with crappy cell reception from day one till now. My Samsung Epic 4G sucked. My Nexus S 4G is equally crappy (or even worst i think). And now, GN radios are seemingly equally flawed.

Link: Nexus S suffering from random data loss, reboots? (updated: fixes coming!) -- Engadget

Sounds familiar?? In fact, just last night, my Nexus S 4G could not get Wifi signal...standing right next to the router! I had to...you guess it...reboot the darn thing!

And for those newbies, those issues reported above were NEVER fixed, despite "updates" from Google. As noted in the past, one of those "updates" actually killed tethering! Nice!

See, I haven't had a single reception issue with any Samsung (even pre-Android) I've had, CDMA or GSM. I've only had GPS problems from them...

 

[Thai]

Still a pretty obvious design flaw to have to be worked-around such a major device/company; especially one that tries to posit a "just works" brand. Samsung and Google (themselves, not fans) do not try to sell perfection (which is always a hard sell).

Yeah, ok...come on, you take things literally? Geez, you must hate Lexus or Rolex! It's simply a goal. I am not sure what you expect from a company's theme/goal. Apple can't make mistakes simply because of that? At least, they try to fix it...and, by goodness, they actually FIX IT. Can you say the same about Sammy or, even Google Nexus phones? Nexus S owners have been waiting for over a year for fixes...............well, we're still waiting. Owners here tell everyone that you guys are "different" and that Google will make good on its promises...everyone is still waiting...we just have to see i guess.

 

[Tim K]

Everyone......Ignore the troll. I should have.

 

[TopherG]

So you know how to jailbreak iPhone but can't figure out GNex to get good enough battery life? Wow...

I know!! Damn near impossible! Oh well.. I guess you could always carry around a bunch of batteries.

 

[Thai]

I know!! Damn near impossible! Oh well.. I guess you could always carry around a bunch of batteries.

Not sure if true, but you may lose NFC function if you use aftermarket battery. For me, i use a $20 external battery backup (3000 mAh) and just charge the battery when needed. The 3000 mAh backup is pretty small...about just a tad bigger than the stock battery...yet provides plenty of backup juice.

 

[Sandroidfan]

I know!! Damn near impossible! Oh well.. I guess you could always carry around a bunch of batteries.

My nexus can go over 20 hours easily on 3G/WiFi and 9 hours on 4G under moderate use. So there is no need for me to carry bunch of batteries. I'm sure I'm about average on battery life and there are many others with even better battery life on nexus. This is with stock nexus and rooting will take it to next level on battery. if you couldn't get close to that, there must be something wrong with your nexus or the way you use it.

 

[Deathshead]

Nexus will ALWAYS be on the cutting edge as far as development and updates worldwide.

If you ARE a iphone user ICS will come a bit easier to you and will feel so much more refined than ios or PRE 4.x android.

Battery life - I get 15-32hrs.

I see no reason to choose motorola over the nexus at this point, unless you like to be held hostage by them for updates and have to deal with terrible blur.

 

[Boomer Dog16]

Imho you are overlooking the best phone available right now, the Galaxy Note International version. The Note will get ICS (promised before april) larger higher speced screen, gorilla glass, stylus pen, if you are in usa, can be used on At t gophone plan, (i'm using this plan) I have had my Note for few weeks now and just sold my Nexus Prime, very glad to be rid of that piece of crap.

 

[NexusTootsie]

here's the deal:

reading your entire post, the one drawback I see you have re: the nexus is the battery life, which granted is crappy, considering the cost of the device and the fact that immediately following launch samsung released the extended battery, which fits perfectly in back so there was no reason to send it on it's way with such a paltry battery in the first place. the extended battery is excellent - FOR this kind of device, which in every single phone I've seen stinks to high hell and everybody on them has their charging strategy. Including iphones.

okay. so that's out of the way.

I see only one answer and that is the nexus. It is a beautiful thing. maybe the most beautiful thing that will happen for quite some time. like the iphone USED to be.

I don't root. I would be a bad rooter. I become slightly hysterical when things dont exactly go as planned. plus I know squat about computers for all the years I've been living on them. half the posts I read here send me off to google words and anachronisms I instantly forget anyway. so I have to say to myself "you must never root".

but this isn't about me. it's about you. you want to customize, to play, to create your environment. if you know what you're doing or have an adventurous spirit (and some brains) this is THE device. I know this because every single day when I read of all the customizing that's going on, I yearn. in spite of the fact that this phone, by it's lonesome, standing in all it's naked glory is one hell of a device and has apps coming out daily that make it even more of a hell of a device. to look at your galaxy nexus then another phone, ANY other phone, you cannot help but smile smugly to yourself.

iphone is apple which is too plumped up, a little old and greedy and complacent and market focused. their market is your money. so its about propriety. getting that cash in your pocket. android is new and fresh and hungry. it will do anything for you. this is the bandwagon.

 

[pm1066]

Both have substandard camera from reviews. The Droid 4, just released, has pretty good camera from early reviews. I would go with D4 IMO, esp. if you're into physical keyboard.

The reviews on the Razr are out of date. The camera was ok, now it had much faster focus and overall better picture quality. Still not as good as a dedicated high end point and shoot or DSLR, of course, but pretty good. Has it been confirmed the D4 even has a different camera from the Razr?

I suggest testing both in the store to form your own opinion.

 

[Thai]

Both have substandard camera from reviews. The Droid 4, just released, has pretty good camera from early reviews. I would go with D4 IMO, esp. if you're into physical keyboard.[/QU OTE]

The reviews on the Razr are out of date. The camera was ok, now it had much faster focus and overall better picture quality. Still not as good as a dedicated high end point and shoot or DSLR, of course, but pretty good. Has it been confirmed the D4 even has a different camera from the Razr?

I suggest testing both in the store to form your own opinion.

You're right...I am likely outdated.

 

[Tim K]

Nexus will ALWAYS be on the cutting edge as far as development and updates worldwide.

I see no reason to choose motorola over the nexus at this point, unless you like to be held hostage by them for updates and have to deal with terrible blur.

Today's news from Motorola....

ICS coming to the RAZR / RAZR MAXX...... someday!

Current status "evaluation and planning" - that's their "stage 1".... not even in development

https://forums.motorola.com/pages/00add97d6c

Ouch.

 

[phantomash]

While Moto hasn't dropped ICS yet, there have been 2 updates to the Razr family already--and not just bug fixes. They have added some pretty cool functionality to the integrated file/media management.

good luck waiting for ICS now. Hopefully its before GNex got the Jelly Bean update.