Sprint Nexus Arriving in hours - What to do first?

[knotquiteawake]

Finally getting something to replace my POS LG Optimus (the GPS was failing in the middle of navigation, failed to charge, SD card unmouted randomly, dropped calls, slow, locked up... etc)

After exhaustive searching and reading of reviews I finally settled on the Seidio Active Case. Beyond the protection it comes in my favorite shade of red (they call it burgundy).

Whats next? I understand that the battery life might be a bit on the low side. I'm not a heavy user, but when its time to use it I want to be working (mostly for navigation as needed a few times a week, and I have a microUSB charger for the car which should work for it). I do use push gmail, check facebook a few times, and read news sites while on break.

I have been reading dozens of reviews and threads regarding the OEM 2100mAH batteries. I understand the only one made is for the Verizon phones. Is that still correct? If so does the back case still have issues with the tabs not matching up? I am also under the impression that at least the verizon/sprint batteries are interchangeable? Both are rectangles right? I don't want the 3500mAH batteries, don't want to deal with the bulk of the battery PLUS bulk of a case on top of that.

Finally getting a non-POS phone! So excited... Waiting for the UPS drive to pull up any minute!

 

[VoidedSaint]

first thing i would do. is open the box

and put the sim card and battery in, but you cannot do this in reverse order!
if you tried i hope you make a video and share it with us
then put the back cover on
and then turn it on


all in all, you may like it or hate it, i do like mine on occasion (when it wants to work or i am not touching it)
but its a hit or miss with some.
hope you enjoy it!

 

[Tim K]

Whats next? I understand that the battery life might be a bit on the low side. I'm not a heavy user, but when its time to use it I want to be working (mostly for navigation as needed a few times a week, and I have a microUSB charger for the car which should work for it). I do use push gmail, check facebook a few times, and read news sites while on break.

You will be fine if, A) you are a moderate user and B) you have good signal where you live/work.

Make sure your car charger is 1.0 amps. Most are only .5 amp. If you are going to be using GPS keep in mind that uses a TON of battery. Remember, when GPS is on the phone uses the data connection to plot your location and display maps. So, Navigation will hit on 3 of the biggest battery uses there are - simultaneously. Screen ON, Data ON, GPS ON. A .5amp charger will not keep up.

As for maximizing battery life, I have a lot of info in the link in my signature. Start at the earliest posts first. If you don't want to read I'll summarize - turn off any syncing that you don't need. I only sync contacts, gmail, browser, calendar. Don't let things like google+ or facebook sync. They are known battery hogs - plus you don't really need constant updates. The apps will update when you open them. Keep screen brightness as low as you are comfortable with. I go at 30% indoors and 70% outdoors.

 

[nomarsgirl]

I'm not the OP, but mine also just arrived. I have the Verizon version.

The instructions that Amazon sent me said to load Verizon backup assistant on my old phone before I activate this one. I assume that is not necessary if all my contacts were either Google or Exchange (they are). Can I safely skip this step?

I want to be sure that I'm connected to WiFi on the new Nexus when it begins syncing my contacts, calendar, e-mail and apps. I'm on a limited data plan and don't want to burn through it all on day 1. What do I need to do to ensure that I can connect to wifi before beginning?

 

[sik00]

I'm not the OP, but mine also just arrived. I have the Verizon version.

The instructions that Amazon sent me said to load Verizon backup assistant on my old phone before I activate this one. I assume that is not necessary if all my contacts were either Google or Exchange (they are). Can I safely skip this step?

I want to be sure that I'm connected to WiFi on the new Nexus when it begins syncing my contacts, calendar, e-mail and apps. I'm on a limited data plan and don't want to burn through it all on day 1. What do I need to do to ensure that I can connect to wifi before beginning?

If your contacts are synced with Google then they will resync when you set up your Google account on the new phone.

I think it should ask you to connect to WiFi during initial setup.

 

[VoidedSaint]

it only askes to connect to wifi if there is no signal present, which there never is when you first cut the phone on. but if it sits, there will be signal coming in

 

[nomarsgirl]

it only askes to connect to wifi if there is no signal present, which there never is when you first cut the phone on. but if it sits, there will be signal coming in

I managed to get around that by choosing to set up later. I let it finish activating without signing in to Google. Connected to wifi before entering my google credentials. I have been playing with it non stop and haven't used any data yet. I know there is no 4G signal here. We don't even have 3G in my area. Voice and text are iffy at best around here.

I'll have to get out of the house later to really test this thing out.

 

[VoidedSaint]

wow, that stinks, no 4g or 3g? well i hope verizon will visit your neighborhood some day soon and get you some signal coverage. maybe you should call them and ask when will they set it up, and do what you can about getting it done, dont give up after the first try, you may even be able to get a network extender or whatever that high tech nifty device is called.

 

[nomarsgirl]

wow, that stinks, no 4g or 3g? well i hope verizon will visit your neighborhood some day soon and get you some signal coverage. maybe you should call them and ask when will they set it up, and do what you can about getting it done, dont give up after the first try, you may even be able to get a network extender or whatever that high tech nifty device is called.

I have actually heard from several different sources that anyone who lives in my town can get out of their Verizon contract without paying an early term fee because they know it is a dead zone. Not only don't I have 3G or 4G, I drop every call -- if the phone even rings. I would have switched, but my husband absolutely refuses and we're on a family plan. He has this fear that he will lose his phone number.

They will happily sell me a network extender, but I refuse to buy it on the principle that I pay them for service and they need to provide it. We have a land line.

 

[VoidedSaint]

whereas i agree with your logic of them needing to provide what you pay for. it is actually not that easy, there are different scenarios that can play out here.
you moved to the area and no cell service(not your fault)
you moved to the area, then got verizon service(after the first 2 days you should have returned the devices saying there is no verizon coverage)

however regardless of the situation you should be getting service for what you pay for. make your plea to verizon and see what they can do to help you, our other member trophynuts, went through the same ordeal, you may want to get in contact with him and find out the steps he took to get his network extender.

 

[414toyz]

You should send it back, cause this phone is a POS too.

 

[nomarsgirl]

Actually got a phone call at my house and call didn't drop. No phone gets data here. I have Wi-Fi and would use, that anyway to save on my capped data package. Liking the phone so far. Navigation worked well and I had a steady 4g signal at the mall. I think this will work out just fine.

 

[Zeinzu]

You should send it back, cause this phone is a POS too.

Just because yours broke doesn't mean everyone's is a POS.

 

[lordj]

First thing I did was install flash player before jellybean. I know its not "supported" but seems to work fine.

 

[knotquiteawake]

I am loving the phone so far. The signal strength is kind of bad here, I looked on the map and realized I am pretty much in the middle of a giant triangle made by the three closest cell towers and also part of a 1/8mile strip of 3g only coverage. Seriously, a 2 block wide area of 3g only... everywhere else around gets 4g.
No problem because at home its on the wifi

Also, regarding battery, with Juicedefender running and using it moderately so far I am currently at 1day 3hours with 48% battery life remaining. Thats not too bad.

I've also now loaded Cyanogenmod onto it. That was an adventure. I'm loving the features and flexibility.