Topic: Everything Android - The Official Android Thread

[shingi_70]

Well looks like there's no reason to buy a Nook anymore.

According to Tech Crunch, Microsoft wants to completely buy the Nook division from Barnes & Noble. The Android-based Nook tablets will be discontinued next year, as the company moves away from hardware to a new business model of software distribution.
 
I guess putting Google Play on the Nook HD was a wasted endeavor, since the tablets will be discontinued next year.

You assume they would kill the nook line. They wouldn't they would just replace Android with WinRT which makes alot more sense for nook as a company.

But Barnes & Noble does want to move away from hardware and focus on software distribution. They can't compete with Amazon, so they really have no other choice.

If Microsoft buys the Nook division (which includes eBooks), how will Barnes & Noble survive on their own?

The normal bookstores while facing a decline should leave them alive for a while. Also the nook was spined off into its own company so the Book divsion wouldn't impact it. Microsoft has everything in its ecosystem expect a book/newsapaper brand. (Google doesn't either). Microsft already has 300 million invested in the nook media brand and uses it as its unofficial book brand. They're also looking at the prospect of leveraging the nook's old connections to try and push for more digital textbooks and office intergration. could make for a good line of student based products for windows 8.


On better news Android Authority has some deets about the Nexus 7 refresh.
http://www.androidauthority.com/nexus-7-android-4-3-jelly-bean-snapdragon-s4-pro-206454/

• quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor (APQ8064)

• 5-megapixel camera

• HD front-facing camera

• Wi-Fi

• Bluetooth

• NFC

• 4000mAh battery with Qi wireless charging support

• Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

• 
  [/size]while the battery life is smaller than the current nexus model, the prospect of a better processor as well as a Back facing camera and wireless charging would be awesome. Its also supposed to have a smaller bezel which would be great coming from the nexus 4 [/color]

[BranDonk Kong]

My body is ready.

[tendoboy1984]

I really hope Google and Microsoft unlock SD cards for app storage. 8 GB and 16 GB internal storage is not enough for anything these days (especially when half of that is used by the OS and preinstalled apps). All tablets and smartphones should have at least 32 GB standard.

I can use external memory on my 3DS and PC to store apps and games, so why are Google and Microsoft blocking this feature?

[shingi_70]

I really hope Google and Microsoft unlock SD cards for app storage. 8 GB and 16 GB internal storage is not enough for anything these days (especially when half of that is used by the OS and preinstalled apps). All tablets and smartphones should have at least 32 GB standard.

I can use external memory on my 3DS and PC to store apps and games, so why are Google and Microsoft blocking this feature?

because it creates an unfavorable experience for the user. apps running off the SD card are based upon the quality of the SD card. if not than running them can be slower and just all around sucky for the user.




16GB is enough space for most people

[tendoboy1984]

I really hope Google and Microsoft unlock SD cards for app storage. 8 GB and 16 GB internal storage is not enough for anything these days (especially when half of that is used by the OS and preinstalled apps). All tablets and smartphones should have at least 32 GB standard.

I can use external memory on my 3DS and PC to store apps and games, so why are Google and Microsoft blocking this feature?

because it creates an unfavorable experience for the user. apps running off the SD card are based upon the quality of the SD card. if not than running them can be slower and just all around sucky for the user.

16GB is enough space for most people

You can use external hard drives on a PC and Wii U to backup data. And the 3DS lets you store apps on the SD card.

[shingi_70]

There's an article from An droid central explaining it better.

http://m.androidcentral.com/why-nexus-devices-have-no-sd-card

For most things you want to do 16GB and Cloud storage should be enough.

[pokepal148]

except my phone is my main music (and podcast) playing device...
and even if i had any reason to trust the cloud you still need to deal with carrier data plans(and I do not currently have one)
oh and it looks like i was right about not trusting the cloud

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/22/business/la-fi-tn-microsoft-hack-azure-20130222
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/02/why-cloud-services-are-so-easy-to-hack/
http://gigaom.com/2012/08/01/dropbox-yes-we-were-hacked/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21754034
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Apple-iCloud-Hack-Raises-Concerns-Over-Cloud-Security-609440/

[shingi_70]

Is it that big of a deal that someone knows you like Lana Del Ray or leoaporte?

[tendoboy1984]

So I've been reading about all those Nexus 7 hardware issues (won't power on or resume from sleep, screen separation, charging issues, screen goes black, etc.). How common are they? I was considering getting a Nexus 7, but all those issues are making me have second thoughts.
 
Are there any good alternatives to the Nexus 7? The Galaxy Tab perhaps?

[pokepal148]

Is it that big of a deal that someone knows you like Lana Del Ray or leoaporte?

if you can't access your stuff yes, it is a big deal

[Shaymin]

There's an article from An droid central explaining it better.

http://m.androidcentral.com/why-nexus-devices-have-no-sd-card

For most things you want to do 16GB and Cloud storage should be enough.

Tell that to my 150MB/month data plan.

[BranDonk Kong]

Who do you have for service? I can get you a better deal.

[Shaymin]

I'm in Canada, land of bagged milk and 3 year contracts. I doubt your connections are that good.

[pokepal148]

the US isn't that grand either... verizon has killed grandfathered unlimited plans... at&t has removed data from its pay as you go plans...

[tendoboy1984]

Sprint and T-Mobile have unlimited data. T-Mobile recently discontinued their 2-year contracts, and their new plans are pretty affordable.

[tendoboy1984]

There's an article from An droid central explaining it better.

http://m.androidcentral.com/why-nexus-devices-have-no-sd-card

For most things you want to do 16GB and Cloud storage should be enough.

Have you had any hardware problems with your Nexus 7 (screen separating from the casing, device won't charge, screen goes black, etc.)? All those reports of hardware issues have made me reconsider buying a Nexus 7.

I just want a tablet that's affordable (under $300) and has good quality hardware.

[BranDonk Kong]

Yeah, we sell GoSmart Mobile (which is owned by T-Mobile), you can have unlimited everything for $35 (2G) or $45 (3G). The $45 plan gives you 5GB at 3G, then the rest is 2G - but it's still better than any of T-Mobile's other plans. Hard to beat that...unless you're the dealer since we get 1 free line and 1 line at $10/mo.


This belongs more in the phone thread(s), but non-subsidized phones are the way to go. The plans get way cheaper (since the carrier can't justify the high price) and the cost of phones should come down too (since the manufacturer can't justify the high price).


Having said that, I still have Verizon and will probably never switch.

[tendoboy1984]

Yeah, we sell GoSmart Mobile (which is owned by T-Mobile), you can have unlimited everything for $35 (2G) or $45 (3G). The $45 plan gives you 5GB at 3G, then the rest is 2G - but it's still better than any of T-Mobile's other plans. Hard to beat that...unless you're the dealer since we get 1 free line and 1 line at $10/mo.


This belongs more in the phone thread(s), but non-subsidized phones are the way to go. The plans get way cheaper (since the carrier can't justify the high price) and the cost of phones should come down too (since the manufacturer can't justify the high price).


Having said that, I still have Verizon and will probably never switch.

I was talking about T-Mobile's unlimited 4G data plans for $70 a month. A hell of a better deal than AT&T or Verizon, which don't have unlimited data.

[pokepal148]

or you can have local storage and not have to worry about using the right data plan

[shingi_70]

or you can have local storage and not have to worry about using the right data plan

But with cloud  you don't have to worry about what you want to keep on your devices. T-mo Unlimited data FTW! Plus having everything synch around each other is amazing.


@Tendoboy


Never had any major problems with my Nexus 7. Sometimes I find the hardware to bit a bit too slow and the hardware seems creaky when enough press is applied too it. I had problems charging it but that turned out to be becuase of the micro usb that came with it got bent.

[BranDonk Kong]

I still have unlimited data with Verizon...$40/mo.

[pokepal148]

or you can have local storage and not have to worry about using the right data plan

But with cloud  you don't have to worry about what you want to keep on your devices. T-mo Unlimited data FTW! Plus having everything synch around each other is amazing.

Which brings us back to the hacking argument and what happens if the service goes down.

[shingi_70]

or you can have local storage and not have to worry about using the right data plan

But with cloud  you don't have to worry about what you want to keep on your devices. T-mo Unlimited data FTW! Plus having everything synch around each other is amazing.

Which brings us back to the hacking argument and what happens if the service goes down.

local backups. You just seem a tad bit too paranoid,

[pokepal148]

No I mean how do I listen to the new episode of rfn if for whatever reason I cannot access the cloud?

[shingi_70]

No I mean how do I listen to the new episode of rfn if for whatever reason I cannot access the cloud?

Use a different podcast client or download it directly from the RSS feed. I mean your harping on the cloud seems to be predicated on this stupid fear of what if everything goes to **** or hacked.I mean newsflash this is pretty close to not wanting to go to public places on the off chance[size=78%] your killed in a freak accident.[/size]

[size=78%]I mean in the 44-5 years I've been using modern mobile platforms I've barley had any problems with the cloud and storage/keeping. I guess its [/size]because[size=78%] i'm apart of the web 2.0 but looking at m phone most of my services are web based. [/size]

[size=78%]Also [/size]utilizing [size=78%]the cloud doesn't mean you have to forgoe local storage\[/size]