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So the Nexus 7 is my first and probably my only tablet for the next long while. I have been a fan of owning Nexus devices since I got my Nexus S (Which is still on duty today!)
When I saw Google I/O I think we all had the same reaction... "WOW! A quad core, HD tablet with Jelly Bean and from Google, For only $199!" and I was no exception. After some thinking, I figured that I would probably enjoy owning a tablet and I went and got a 16gb model.
First Impressions...
The tablets box was just beautiful and I couldn't help but take a picture of it before opening it up. Simple, colourful and elegant. After opening up the box (Man that slip cover is on tight eh?) I was greeted to the 100% clean and clear screen and a small overlay showing the button functions. The tablet set-up was a breeze and looked wonderful, just like ICS and other JB devices all do, but what was sweet is the tablet some how entered my gmail address automatically for me, so I am guessing that is because it recognized the Wi-Fi network I connected her to, but none the less the first time start up took no more then a minute.
As I said I have a Nexus S rooted running JB so this is not my first JB device, but the Nexus 7? This was a whole new playing field for me. Every single touch and swipe was instant and smooth, much more so then my Nexus S ever has been. It to this day is running smooth as silk on the stock ROM. Well done Google.
Screen was very clear and responsive, not quite a retina display (I know, blasphemy) but still very very good. One downer was it's colours aren't quite as vivid as an AMOLED screen, but in fairness, they are more natural on the Nexus 7.
Feeling and weight wise was no compromise. The tablet feels great in the had and I can say that I can easily use it one handed for videos for a fairly long time before my arm gets the least bit tired. The back of this baby is textured just right in my taste. My parents have a Lenovo Ideapad and in my comparison, it is rather heavy, and after a while feels bad in the hands, but the Nexus 7 is curved just the right amount to be easy to hold, yet still modern in design so this one is just as Matias Duarte says: "Feels perfect in the hands".
After Some Time?
The tablet is still holding up as I have said with only one complaint...
I dropped this girl from about 2 feet off the ground when I got out of my car, and it feel on to gravel. It works just fine, but the damage to the silver outter ring was not very good looking.... It seems like a very easy to scuff little ring so I would be careful with that part... The screen to had a very very minor scratch which I often forget, but still is there and all from one very small drop. I guess I should get a case very soon hahahaa. Again, very minor drop and damage, but it reflects how it would handle if it were dropped while standing for example. Hopefully, I won't find out...
Am I satisfied? Yes. I am very happy with my purchase, and I recommend it to anyone really. This has fit into my daily schedules more then I have ever thought! 60% of the time I use this over my laptop for web browsing and YouTube videos. It is just wonderful for daily interwebz, videos, games etc. The build quality I assume could be better (judging from peoples other reviews) but to me it seems very substantial and I am completely happy with it, especially at $249 for 16gb.
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And this is the damage if you were wondering. Keep in mind it is only from 2, maybe even 1.5 feet high from out of my car.
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As for the first run problems, I am guessing they are there, but bare in mind... When there is a issue with a new device, you go online but when there isn't, you don't. Think of all the other tablets that are working fine that have shipped. For what it's worth mine is of the C7 serial.
I agree devices no matter how cheap they may be, should ALL be put through equal quality control. Asus I think is doing a decent job with their devices, and my Asus laptop is handling better then better. Call me a fan boy but I think it really is a pretty good device. As for the comparison people make to cars, there is none. Often times I wonder if cars are built like disposable cameras these days but what ever. Phones are not wonderful either but most all the ones I have had, have done their work.
All the defect and issues treads are making me sad. We bought a phone to enjoy it not sit and complain about it.
I'll start by naming a few things I like. The speakers in my opinion actually sound good. There's plenty of bass and it's not full of tremble. I can actually do homework and play music with out issues.
The screen has nice colors and really pops out at ya. Ya there's bad viewing angle but who looks at there phone from the side. These are a few things I like so far.
All in all I find this an improvement all around. It's a $350 device and I will enjoy it tell the nexus 6.
Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
right now i'm stoked. however, i may end up getting one of those red cases from the play store, because the ever so slight camera lens protruding out from the back drives me crazy when laying on a completely flat surface, it rocks tops left to bottom right lol
Ya a case is almost needed with the camera sticking out like that. I've been a big fan of diztronic cases, which should be here soon.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Been an android fan for years, and have always rooted tweaked my phones grew tired of it, used the iphone 5 for the past 7 months and really enjoyed not wanting to tweak the phone or anything. Longest I kept a phone within the past 3-4 years. Typically trade or sell every android phone I've had.
Nexus 5
love the feel & size of the phone, screen is pretty solid. Android kit kat OS is pretty solid very happy with it, not all the apps are working thought, still need updates on some. No complaints on speakers, screen etc... only issue for me is battery, will get a solid 7-9 hours use but I do need to place on the charger at work to be able to use it all day. Typically off the charger at 530 am and not home till about 7-8pm.
Posted on craigslist and have few offers that I'm considering
Galaxy s4 with spigen matte black slim armor view case
moto x plus a nexus 7 32gb
iphone 5 32gb
iphone 5s 16gb
Main concern is battery, need something to last all day for me with medium to heavy use. Root and new kernel?
I ordered two one for me and one for a friend, both are perfect, no rattling power buttons, no dead pixels maybe I'm just lucky but I love my nexus 5.
I'm not sure if I'm lucky, or the people who are satisfied and not having issues are just keeping quiet, but I have none of the issues commonly mentioned in the defects thread
-- Very minimal backlight bleed
-- Vibration motor is fine... maybe a LITTLE soft, certainly not loud.
-- No dead pixels
-- Speaker sounds fine
-- No rattling or loose buttons
I have the black 32GB model. I must say, I'm absolutely LOVING the device. Android 4.4 is beautiful, the device is screaming fast (anyone coming from a Galaxy Nexus must just be thrilled). The screen is gorgeous... everything about it is just great.
Interestingly, my favorite thing of all might be the soft-touch back. Yes, it's a bit of a fingerprint magnet, but wow does it make holding and navigating the device comfortable. It feels wonderful.
No complaints whatsoever.
What was wrong with this thread? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2514166
What MaxCarnage said...
Closed
I don't usually post on here but really wanted to share my opinions on the N5 as a Nexus enthusiast. Before I start I'd like to point out that on top of owning all of the previous Nexuses, I was trained as an industrial designer and currently work at a tech company doing software UX design, so I cover it in depth from both points of view. I've also never flashed a custom ROM and have always used my Nexus as a regular consumer would, so bear that in mind as I cover the software. Oh and apologies in advance for the length.
Hardware
The Nexus 5 hardware is excellent. It's the most refined and understated industrial design of any Nexus so far. Nothing is arbitrary; for once there are no egregious lines or curves. There's no more 'hump' on the bottom like the Samsung Nexus'. There's no glittery back like the Nexus 4. It's similar to the Xperia Z1 and iPhone 4 in its strive for simplicity. Even the controversial camera lens serves a purpose- you can almost always feel when you have a finger on it, preventing photos with a blurry pink intruder.
The build quality is also a new high point for the Nexus series. Even though the Nexus One was made out of metal, HTC hardware hadn't matured to where it is now with the HTC One, and there were imperfections in the machining and fitment. The Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus were typical Samsung with large gaps between the screen and bezel-that were prone to collecting dust and debris. The Galaxy Nexus also had visible witness lines (where the tool separates in the injection molding process) along the sides. The Nexus 4 was well-built, but its construction with the chrome bezel felt outdated and harkened back to iPhone 3G days.
The Nexus 5 features some amazing tolerances between the screen and bezel, too small to let dust in, and resulting in a very precise feel when you run your finger over the edge of the glass. The parting line between the back panel and the bezel possesses this same level of precision. The Nexus and LG logos on the back are more than meet the eye- upon close inspection there is actually a reflective plastic layer inlay inside the debossed characters- probably what Matias Duarte was referring to when he mentioned in an interview that the casing goes through several post-processes, including 'lasers'. I'm guessing the reflective inlays are laser cut and then glued into the deboss.
The only hardware letdown are the power and volume buttons. In theory they should be great; the button themselves have a precise, machined feel to them and you can actually see the layers of ceramic when light reflects off them. The issue is the way they are attached to the phone- they move around a bit within their housings, something I haven't felt since the Nexus S. There's also a bit of backlight that leaks around the edges of the display, only visible when you're looking at the display from the side.
The camera is better than the Nexus 4, and that's good enough for me. I've always felt that smartphone cameras are what you make of them, and the Nexus 5 gives me a lot more to work with. I've taken some incredible shots with even the Galaxy Nexus camera, and if you know how to steady a camera and work with exposure, the Nexus 5 can take great photos. That said, iPhone cameras have an amazing ability to make anyone's haphazard shots turn out great, and sadly the Nexus 5's camera can't compete in that regard.
Software
On the software side, KitKat is a great update that really lets apps shine. From a design perspective, it makes sense that they got rid of 'Holo Blue' in the system UI, because it really did clash with some of the looks developers were trying to achieve in their apps. The full-screen 'immersive mode' is great, but the black gradients at the top and bottom really bother me. It looks like the edges of the screen are burnt, especially when there's a light background like in Google Now. In a DevBytes video on Youtube Roman Nurik said something like "in this iteration it's a gradient", which suggests to me that this was a controversial decision and leaves some hope that these horrendous gradients will be fixed in a future release. I think the transparent bars really lends itself to some apps with full-bleed views like Maps though, and I can't wait for an update that enables them.
The new dialer adds a lot of utility; I've only used it for a couple days but it seems like it will get smarter in time as it learns who I contact the most. So far it looks like it's going to make the People app obsolete for me.
That said, some changes may be hard to swallow for Android enthusiasts. One of the things I missed the most is the network activity indicators for Wifi and network in the status bar (those little up and down arrows), as well as the blue color that showed you were connected to Google's servers. The indicators still exist, but they now live in the quick settings in the notifications shade. I'll miss being in an app and seeing whether or not it was accessing the network just by glancing at the top right corner of the screen.
The fact that Google Now is a swipe away from your homescreen is nice, but not entirely necessary- it was a swipe away anyway, by pulling up from the home button. The fact that Google Now is on the left also means that your homescreen is the leftmost one, and the ability to have screens on the left and right of the homescreen (present since the beginning of Android) is now gone. I used to keep my widgets on the left and apps on the right of my homescreen so this is a big change. This is slightly abated by the fact that you can long press to zoom out, and then fly through all of your screens, but for some infuriating reason, it doesn't select the screen I want on a single tap- I have to press it twice. This may be the first time since Gingerbread that I'll use a custom launcher.
Hangouts and SMS integration should be great in theory, but in practice it's a mess. SMS and hangout threads are actually separated and not blended into one conversation, and if you're using multiple accounts it gets even more complicated because you'll now have two separate inboxes.
Overall the hardware is a great upgrade from the Nexus 4, and is definitely the best looking Nexus so far. The software has some great additions to increase usability, but also has some omissions that Android enthusiasts know and love. As we all know, Android is a very iterative piece of software; I'm just wondering whether my expectations based on advancements in the user experience of previous iterations has left me disappointed in KitKat's subtle improvements.
Odd and Ends
Yes, the display is fantastic
So far, the battery seems better than my Nexus 4
The Snapdragon 800 is a beast
So how's the touch response? Since the Nexus S: it's gotten progressively worse. What's the average Prs and Size values?
Nice review. :good:
Isn't it possible any more to configure which elements are in the notification bar (e.g. "location")?
Nice review!
great review, thanks.
Your review sounds very fanboy-ish...well I guess it's kind of expected from a nexus enthusiast.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
in reality no, the nexus 5 is as he has described , and will get better with updates .
highend01 said:
Isn't it possible any more to configure which elements are in the notification bar (e.g. "location")?
Nice review!
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To my knowledge you could never customize what appears on the right side of the notification bar in stock Android.
I never ever ever ever ever been a fan of stock android but kitkat paired with an S800 is so smooth and fast that I'm in love with this nexus 5. And battery life is actually quite good for me. Easily lasts me a day.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Your battery is far better than on galaxy nexus, hopefully..?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Hi guys I'm thinking of buying LG G flex and looking for some opinions. Im an Xperia Z user and a very satisfied user. I didnt even think of changing my phone and its been with me for a year but the G flex caught my eyes and the main reason why i wanna buy it is because its different and curved. Here are some things that Im not so sure about so if you can help me with it using your experience then Id be grateful
1- Screen quality - now to be honest, im not a tech expert or someone that will look at the screen very closely to find pixels. Im a normal user, i like watching some videos and web browsing. the g flex has got a lot of criticism on the 720p display so what do you guys think in general? im coming from a 1080p display but i dont think ill have a lot of problems with the 720p display? some reviews i read were horendous that u cant even look at the screen its so bad. i know its not that bad. i just want to know if its a good screen that can show videos and pictures nicely. nothing extra extra sharp. also, im using hp envy x2 which is a tablet and laptop hybrid featuring a 720p display. i love it and dont have any problems against the screen. but i dont know whether 11 inch tablet screens are difff from phone screens and if tablet screens are even better at 720p?
2-screen ghosting. this is another thing ive heard a lot but havent heard anything about it from regular users. is screen ghosting a major issue and does it happen regularly? i plan on using it at 60% or + brightness because the battery is huge so will screen ghosting still be present? and is there a fix? is it a deal breaker?
3 Screen bumps- ive seen videos where users show bumps on their screens which lg admitted as well i think its because of flexing the screen. is bumps a regular issue for you guys? if i get a bump, it there a way to fix it or will it stay forever ?
4- Back- someone told me that the back of the device looks cheap and is uncomfortable?
5 Breaking - this might sound weird but did anyone break their device is the curved and flexible screen and design sensitive and will it break if it drops?
6 -Usable- i havent used a 6 inch phone before so this is a general question of whether the phone seems fine in usage? my xperia z is 5 inches but i dont consider it as big at all but do u guys feel that 6 inches is manageable? i had a blackberry playbook once and it was very big at 7 inches and NOT AT ALL something i couuld use as a phone. so how is the 6 inch phone? is it TOO big? or does it seem fine??
Thanks is advance
1. Screen is good but grainy, but for videos this is one of the best screens I have held, and the battery timings for watching videos is phenomenal. You can watch unto 20 hours of video on this phone not to mention overall battery timings as well.
2. Ghosting is definitely there and can be a problem at start but you get use to it slowly, I am use to it now though it was a bit annoying at start.
3. No bumps so far and I have flexed it quite often.
4. The back of this phone is the most premium thing about this phone, it's great to hold and though it looks slippery but it is quite wonderful to grip and doesn't slip.
5 No certain answer for breaking cus you can break anything you want but the construction of the phone is quite solid.
6. It's a big phone and can be a problem if you have small hands but as you have mentioned that 7 inches tablet is fine for you then this shouldn't be a problem at all.
Bottom line: the best phone if you are a phablet lover and you can't use anything else.
papa.khan123 said:
1. Screen is good but grainy, but for videos this is one of the best screens I have held, and the battery timings for watching videos is phenomenal. You can watch unto 20 hours of video on this phone not to mention overall battery timings as well.
2. Ghosting is definitely there and can be a problem at start but you get use to it slowly, I am use to it now though it was a bit annoying at start.
3. No bumps so far and I have flexed it quite often.
4. The back of this phone is the most premium thing about this phone, it's great to hold and though it looks slippery but it is quite wonderful to grip and doesn't slip.
5 No certain answer for breaking cus you can break anything you want but the construction of the phone is quite solid.
6. It's a big phone and can be a problem if you have small hands but as you have mentioned that 7 inches tablet is fine for you then this shouldn't be a problem at all.
Bottom line: the best phone if you are a phablet lover and you can't use anything else.
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Click to collapse
is ghosting there even at high brightness? i think thats pretty bad if ghosting is always there
I've had my flex about a month and I haven't seen any burn in or ghosting. Which from my reading should only happen during the first few weeks of device use if at all. I came from a galaxy s4 and I'll tell ya the screen looks as good as the s4 99% of the time I have noticed the grainy look but only on a few pics. Doesn't always look grainy. I think its just certain colors and maybe pic quality that's my opinion.
As far as breaking. I've dropped mine a couple times and its fine. No cracks the back doesn't feel cheap at all. There's a video of a guy hyper extending the phone probably 15° and it didn't break the screen. The LCD I believe is flexible its the rest of the phone is not. And I think you will only see the bumps in the screen if you try flattening it out or hyper extending it like the guy in the video. Which the bumps appeared from internal parts poking the back of the LCD when bent.
Coming from a very speedy Galaxy S4 to this ....
I'm very pleased. Its faster smoother less lag screen just as good to me but bigger which is a good thing.
I love it. I would recommend and buy another.
Sent from my LG-D959 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
Yes but I hardly even notice the ghosting anymore. I did at first. Really only noticeable for me when using stock sms with dark background in sms and going from white to dark when opening messages.
Sent from my LG-D950 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
yasirrfc said:
is ghosting there even at high brightness? i think thats pretty bad if ghosting is always there
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Click to collapse
Just like so many others, I have not been bothered in any way with ghosting, graininess, or any of the other non sense you have been reading on the internet; all that crap comes from Samsung fan bois, so ignore it..
sounds like you are a lot like me; you don't micro stare at every little aspect of your cell phone, so you will absolutely LOVE this phone; there is a slight blue hue/graininess at times, but moving the brightness up a bit gets rid of it, if it bothers you; it doesn't bother me one bit!
bumps? never heard of it from ANY of the users here. Obviously some idiot abused his phone somehow, and caused something unusual to happen.
how the hell does the back of a device "look cheap"? sounds like more fanbois stupidity..
I've dropped it a couple of times, with no issues to it, so its not like a fragile china vase..
And, if you are ok with your xperia at 5 inches, you won't have any issues with this one...
I'm happy with mine so far. I've always used high end Samsung service's. Best performance I've ever had on a phone. Imo there is only one phone in this category that is better and it's. The note 3. But I just wanted to give this a try cause... well I played with it in the store and I really liked it. If somebody talks badly about this they are just super particular.
Sent from my LG-D950 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
This phone has a "cool factor" that no other phone out now can match....
Coming from a long line of Samsung devices that I've enjoyed very much I took a chance on the Flex about a month back because I like to watch a fair amount of video on my phone and thought it might prove superior for this purpose. A month on I'm not disappointed. I love the screen. I keep the brightness up and haven't been disappointed at all with the quality. I don't miss my Note 3's 1080P. I've had no issues with the phone from bending and such and enjoy the feel of the phone in the hand when texting and making calls. The Flex is very fast and the battery lasts forever. Honestly my only complaint and it is a minor one is that the rear of the phone picks up dust and lint easily, I assume due to the coating. This is not a big deal to me. Overall I would easily purchase this phone again.
darkforestmage said:
Coming from a long line of Samsung devices that I've enjoyed very much I took a chance on the Flex about a month back because I like to watch a fair amount of video on my phone and thought it might prove superior for this purpose. A month on I'm not disappointed. I love the screen. I keep the brightness up and haven't been disappointed at all with the quality. I don't miss my Note 3's 1080P. I've had no issues with the phone from bending and such and enjoy the feel of the phone in the hand when texting and making calls. The Flex is very fast and the battery lasts forever. Honestly my only complaint and it is a minor one is that the rear of the phone picks up dust and lint easily, I assume due to the coating. This is not a big deal to me. Overall I would easily purchase this phone again.
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did u have ghosting problems?
Someone has offered me 200 and a new galaxy mega 6.3 for my g flex what do you all think...should I make the switch ?
Sent from my LG-D959 using xda app-developers app
yasirrfc said:
did u have ghosting problems?
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Click to collapse
I haven't experienced any ghosting issues as yet.
Went from a Note 3 to the flex. Don't miss the Note at all. Really loving this phone, just wish development was more active, ..but after rooting and do a few things. I'm pretty happy with it as is. Great phone. Probably never go back to Samsung again. Their phones have gotten "common" and boring.
Sent from my LG-D959 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
juggamonkey said:
Someone has offered me 200 and a new galaxy mega 6.3 for my g flex what do you all think...should I make the switch ?
Sent from my LG-D959 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Why are you asking us lol? If it was ne i would be asking myself why would i want a phone larger then a 6inch which is the biggest i go s for me heck no i wouldn't trade my flex for no mega, that phone is just over doing it i'm sorry but i don't understand the why over due it as a 6 inch is just the perfect size now you have to ask yourself why do you want the mega not ask us because majority might and will say they wouldn't do it but you have to understand that's us at the end if the day our opinion shouldn't matter if you are interested in the mega so there for if you played with one then you should know what you want to do.
Sent from my LG-LS995 using Tapatalk
I owned the G Flex for a week before I traded it back in on a Note 3. There were just several things I didn't like about it (screen quality & ghosting issues being the driving factors) that caused me to return it. I do miss the Flex sometimes because I thought the curved screen was a great design, but I do not regret my decision to go with the Note 3 as it's easily the best device I've ever owned.
That said, if you can get past the graininess of the screen and the fact that it's not as sharp as the 1080p screens that are out now, it's a fantastic phone. The battery life is second to none (since the screen is only 720p, it drains the battery much slower than the higher res 1080p screen would), it's very smooth and the curved design fits well in your hand. It also has a huge 6" display. The hardware buttons on the back are also a nice touch. All in all, it was a great attempt by LG to try something a little different. Though I did come from a Note 2, I am by no means a Samsung fanboy. My favorite phone prior to this was my HTC Evo3D. I wanted really bad to love the Flex but in the end, I just didn't feel like the things I did like about it could make up for it's shortcomings and in such, I just couldn't commit to it as my daily driver for the next year.
yasirrfc said:
Hi guys I'm thinking of buying LG G flex and looking for some opinions. Im an Xperia Z user and a very satisfied user. I didnt even think of changing my phone and its been with me for a year but the G flex caught my eyes and the main reason why i wanna buy it is because its different and curved. Here are some things that Im not so sure about so if you can help me with it using your experience then Id be grateful
1- Screen quality - now to be honest, im not a tech expert or someone that will look at the screen very closely to find pixels. Im a normal user, i like watching some videos and web browsing. the g flex has got a lot of criticism on the 720p display so what do you guys think in general? im coming from a 1080p display but i dont think ill have a lot of problems with the 720p display? some reviews i read were horendous that u cant even look at the screen its so bad. i know its not that bad. i just want to know if its a good screen that can show videos and pictures nicely. nothing extra extra sharp. also, im using hp envy x2 which is a tablet and laptop hybrid featuring a 720p display. i love it and dont have any problems against the screen. but i dont know whether 11 inch tablet screens are difff from phone screens and if tablet screens are even better at 720p?
2-screen ghosting. this is another thing ive heard a lot but havent heard anything about it from regular users. is screen ghosting a major issue and does it happen regularly? i plan on using it at 60% or + brightness because the battery is huge so will screen ghosting still be present? and is there a fix? is it a deal breaker?
3 Screen bumps- ive seen videos where users show bumps on their screens which lg admitted as well i think its because of flexing the screen. is bumps a regular issue for you guys? if i get a bump, it there a way to fix it or will it stay forever ?
4- Back- someone told me that the back of the device looks cheap and is uncomfortable?
5 Breaking - this might sound weird but did anyone break their device is the curved and flexible screen and design sensitive and will it break if it drops?
6 -Usable- i havent used a 6 inch phone before so this is a general question of whether the phone seems fine in usage? my xperia z is 5 inches but i dont consider it as big at all but do u guys feel that 6 inches is manageable? i had a blackberry playbook once and it was very big at 7 inches and NOT AT ALL something i couuld use as a phone. so how is the 6 inch phone? is it TOO big? or does it seem fine??
Thanks is advance
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Click to collapse
Being the phone junkie I am one of the things I like most about buying new phones is something different and that's why I got the Flex.
Screen - I look at the 720p Flex screen as a pro because that's why the battery life is so great. It's really nice not having to worry about charging your phone for 24 hrs even with heavy use. I had a G2 before my Flex and I don't miss the 1080 screen. I never watch reviews because most of them the people don't even use the phone for that long plus I like to see for myself. The good thing is you get 14 days.
Screen ghosting - I'm not sure if this is that but when I play QuizUp I see the image for a second or two after it goes away sometimes. It doesn't bother me. That's even when the brightness is maxed. I only turn down the brightness when in bed and the Flex battery makes it around 24 hrs on one charge with heavy use.
Screen Bumps - I'm pretty sure this only happens when you Flex the Flex. Just don't do that any you should be fine. I think it's another thing the LG haters like to talk about.
Back of the phone looks cheap - Ummm nothing looks cheap with the Flex. It's a solid phone. The phone is thin and the back is slippery plus the phone tends to pick up lint more then others. I put on a Otter Box 360 skin to keep the phone thin. Phone isn't slippery and less lint/ fingerprints.
Breaking - Ummm just take care of the phone and you'll be fine.
Size - The Flex is so thin it fits fine in my front jeans pocket but I don't wear skinny jeans. lol The phone doesn't feel big. IMO That's another thing that is subjective.
Here's my 2 cents, this phone is great the screen is a bit grainy, but with brightness turned up you won't notice it. Ghosting does happen but only when switching between apps and only for like 2 seconds then it's fine. My only complaint about this phone is the camera, it takes amazing pictures when out in the sun or in a room with ample lighting, but I went to a concert the other night and took pictures and I had to really play with the settings to get the pictures to be decent. For me I'm disappointed at that and hope that this issue will be addressed with kit Kat update, but seeing as I go to only a few concerts a year it's by no means a deal breaker. Like someone said earlier, you have 14 days to play with it. If it doesn't fit with what you want in a phone then just take it back, but I have a feeling that you won't because this phone is a beast!
Sent from my LG-D950 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
hmm i think i really like the g flex now. considering im not someone who will try to compare the phone with 1080p displays, i think it should be a good fit. I use my hp envy x2 tablet/laptop all the time and its also 720p so the sharpness doesn't bother me. For the grainy party, i think i can turn the brightness way up coz of the long battery life someone i know has Note 2 and ive had it in my hands a couple of times and i dont find it bulky or uncomfortable but the g flex is still at 6 inches. do u think if im comfortable with note 2, then g flex shouldn't also be a problem, in terms of handling it etc? as u guys mentioned, ghosting isnt a deal breaker for any of you and it happpens for 1 seconds only so i think i can live with it?
I have had mine for two weeks now.
1. Screen Quality - Its 720 display, if you are coming from an older phone, you won't notice a "lack" of 1080p. Further, the curved screen does work out better for viewing angles. The "grainyness" is not a problem. As noted in many reviews, if you hold the Note 3 and the Flex side by side, you will see a difference, but the quality is not necessarily better.
2. Ghosting not an issue for me. Is it there? Sometimes, is it a problem... no.
3. Screen bumps - As another poster stated, don't do bending tricks with your phone and you won't see these bumps. I haven't seen any yet.
4. Back - Really? Who with a 600 dollar phone doesn't put it immediately in a $50 dollar case? You can't even see the back. That being said, if you carry it bare, it really is very thin with a very well designed back material. It fits very well in your front pocket.
5. Breaking is only an issue if you have an issue breaking phones.
6. Usability is really dependent on the size of your hand. I have smaller hands, so I find myself using it two handed (I bought it for data rather than phone calls), and for phone calls I use bluetooth. The one time I held it to my head, it did feel odd, but not any more odd then a 4.7" phone. I really hate hot glass on my face. You really have to just try it out, I think people can get used to anything if they want to.
any more opinions? or experiences?
After the Livermorium keyboard mod finally failed, I got to work to create something myself, using my trusty 3D printer.
As a basis I am using an generic mini bluetooth keyboard. This thing comes under a variety of names, one of which is Jelly Comb IBK-26IM, but there are a lot of other names for this thing. Additionally to the full six-row keyboard (including dedicated rows for numbers and F-keys and keys like alt, ctrl, esc or shift) it also offers a mediocre touchpad for mouse control.
In the current iteration I only use a 3D printed clamp that connects the keyboard to the smartphone. This is a very simplistic approach but already this is a lot better than only using a touch keyboard.
I made a version that used laptop hinges from an old laptop to fold the keyboard to the back of the phone when not used (Motorola Backflip style), but the laptop hinges were way to strong. So I am currently working on a design using 3D-printed adjustible-strength torque hinges. I am thinking of making a double-hinged design that allows the keyboard to be folded both over the front (laptop style) and the back (Motorola Backflip style), so it can protect the keys and display when stored, and still be used in landscape with the keyboard out and in portrait mode with the keyboard folded to the back of the phone.
These designs I am working on will replace the back plate of the keyboard to reduce the thickness of the whole thing. I am also thinking about adding lead weights to the bottom of the keyboard to balance the top-heavyness, which is an issue, though surprisingly not a major one.
I also made a clamp to connect the smartphone with a Playstation 3 or XBox One controller.
Is anyone interested in either 3D-print files or 3D-printed parts for this? I can adjust the clamp part to work with about every smartphone.
Instead of putting lead weights.. try design it to have a kick stand.
BTW, it awesome for your work so far. Please continue and update here the improvements.
I would love to have one if all fit - slim - easy and most of all, work out perfectly...
Thanks for the interest and the feedback!
Where would you put the kickstand?
I have been using the clamp for a while now. It works pretty nicely. I am not sure if a joint is entirely necessary, since I can just pop the phone out of the clamp if I don't need the keyboard. I will build and test it though, just to see if it is an improvement.
A nice project. :good:
Though there already exists some clamshell variants like the Gemini and the Cosmo
My interest is primarily in a slider - though of course your solution is much better than touch-only.
I have my hopes up high for the "Q-device" hinted at e.g. here and until more news on that, i'm using a Snap-On keyboard for the Samsung S8- (Unfortunately it does not work completely on S9-, see this https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s9/accessories/keyboard-cover-s8-modified-s9-t3841101
ADD:
Just an Idea, depending on how the 3D-print and the hinge is joined. It could be nice if the two 3D-parts meet, and had some suitable cut-ins so it 'snapped' in place at a couple of angles. e.g. closed, open 120 degrees and open 180 degrees.
And If you can get hold of hinges like the Lenovo Yoga, it would be clever if it could bend over and stay in a couple of more angles, including 360 too...
Thank you!
The hinged version isn't actually a clamshell since it does not close with the display and the keyboard on the inside, but rather on the outside. Compared to a clamshell device this does not offer any protection for the screen and the keyboard, but it allows using the display in portrait mode without having the keyboard dangle off to one side. A double-hinged design would allow for both, closing it like a clamshell and also folding the keyboard to the backside.
I would prefer a slider as well, since it is a middle ground between both designs. The keyboard is protected and the screen is not, but you can still use the device in portrait mode. I have two problems with a slider design, though. First, I haven't found any 3D-printable (or cheap and very small buyable) sliding mechanisms. Second, because the sliding mechanism needs to attach to the top of the keyboard, I cannot build it into the back of the keyboard as I am doing with the folding mechanism. The back half of the keyboard is virtually empty and also the shape is pretty simple. So for the folding mechanism I am just going to replace that back half, thus saving a lot of thickness.
I attached renders of the backflip mechanism. Two of the renders show the device in the folded state, with the keyboard being on top, keys facing up, and the phone being on the bottom, screen facing down. The third render shows the mechanism in the opened state. The smartphone is inserted into the thin hoop part and the top half of the keyboard is screwed onto the wider flat panel on the right.
I will post pictures as soon as I'm done printing it and got it to work.
And also, thanks a lot for posting the link at the Keyboard Mod indiegogo page!
Dakkaron said:
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I attached renders of the backflip mechanism. Two of the renders show the device in the folded state, with the keyboard being on top, keys facing up, and the phone being on the bottom, screen facing down. The third render shows the mechanism in the opened state. The smartphone is inserted into the thin hoop part and the top half of the keyboard is screwed onto the wider flat panel on the right.
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Ah I see, only 'backflipping'
You might consider something like this they even mention that you can request a sample, But 500 for $100 that should be enough for your immediate needs
I think I will first try it with 3D printed joints, since there I can adjust the resistance. I already tried it with other laptop hinges, but they were extremely tough, so it was impossible to fold the device without breaking something. Maybe there is something like that with adjustable torque, that would be good.
The version I am currently working on will work like the Motorola Backflip, which is where I got the term from.
Edit: @eske.rahn: I just saw your edit to the first post. Cut-ins sound interesting. I'll have to see if I can get something like that to work.
Dakkaron said:
I think I will first try it with 3D printed joints, since there I can adjust the resistance. I already tried it with other laptop hinges, but they were extremely tough, so it was impossible to fold the device without breaking something. Maybe there is something like that with adjustable torque, that would be good.
The version I am currently working on will work like the Motorola Backflip, which is where I got the term from.
Edit: @eske.rahn: I just saw your edit to the first post. Cut-ins sound interesting. I'll have to see if I can get something like that to work.
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I'm not sure what the correct technical term is, perhaps "Locking hinge", what I mean is something along these lines integrated, but with a limited number of positions
https://www.yeggi.com/goto/l52hmXJ/...03endmN/Qq7Sc29yaqOXKY5nh04POrrC04a_smZusqZ2W
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Dakkaron said:
I think I will first try it with 3D printed joints, since there I can adjust the resistance. I already tried it with other laptop hinges, but they were extremely tough, so it was impossible to fold the device without breaking something. Maybe there is something like that with adjustable torque, that would be good.
The version I am currently working on will work like the Motorola Backflip, which is where I got the term from.
Edit: @eske.rahn: I just saw your edit to the first post. Cut-ins sound interesting. I'll have to see if I can get something like that to work.
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You might also consider a completely different approach with the two halves always parallel, and the mechanics at the ends, like this table thing.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61PZJuntwQL._SL1500_.jpg
(sort of most primtive 'slider', and if the arms got different lengths, you can get a tilt also)
This locking hinge design looks pretty simple. Should be no problem to incorporate that into my design.
A friend of mine had a smartphone a few years with this parallel-arms-design. I can't remember what it was. I think some Samsung phone. I don't think I can make this in 3D-print in the required size... I am thinking about a real slider though. Have to see if it is possible.
I tried printing the hinged design, but I don't have a good printing direction, since neither the top nor the bottom of the keyboard half are touching the floor. I need to rework this. Didn't have much time this weekend.
slider vs hinge
i get it that a hinge is easy to implement but would it not be better to try a sliding action over the hinge since it would allow for a end design
@Dakkaron If you're going for a DIY-solution, I'd suggest modding one of the many existing QWERTY-cases for the Galaxy S4, S5 and iPhone.
Several years ago I had one of those for my S4. The problem is, these are hard to come by, unless you live in the US.
I was also a backer of the keyboard mod, actually only bought the Moto Z because of that about 1,5 years go (and then had to replace it with a Z2 Play half a year ago).
As someone who was craving a keyboard smartphone for years, this is really frustrating.
In 2016 I switched to a Blackberry Priv - up until then I had an imported Droid 4 - but the lack of root and its terrible keyboard drove me away.
A few days ago I got a Gemini PDA and while it definitely has its benefits, it's not nearly as practical as a daily driver as a slider would be.
I wish I could just find one of the lucky few who got the keyboard mod and buy it from them for a hefty price.
As someone who struggles with these highly impractical touchscreen keyboards - even after 1,5 years - I'm really frustrated.
I simply don't get why many years ago smartphone producers suddenly forced keyboard-less phones on us up to the point where most people forgot about them.
It's not like people suddenly said 'we don't want a hardware keyboard anymore', they just stopped producing models with a keyboard.
But it's not like people don't want a physical keyboard!
I still know a few that just want to have a keyboard again. And everyone who's seen my keyboard phones so far immediately responded positively to them.
It's a shame that the options for people like us are so limited.
noonebikes4free said:
i get it that a hinge is easy to implement but would it not be better to try a sliding action over the hinge since it would allow for a end design
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Sure a slider would be better for a SPECIFIC combo, but I guess the hinge design is easier to make more general for different types of keyboards and phablets/phones.
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I'm certainly with you @Shani Ace
Personally in the waiting for a real slider, I prefer the primitive snap-on solution for e.g. the S8 as an intermediate device over a hinge design (no matter what way it folds).
(and I must admit I'm getting impatient for more information of the elusive Q device. The teaser page offers so little that it's more annoyance than tease...)
@noonebikes4free: I too would like a slider best, but I just have no idea how to make one. I have taken apart the Motorola Droid 3 and 4, so I know how their sliders work, but there is no way I can replicate that in 3D printed plastic and my metalworking skills are non-existant. So it is not a case of me being too lazy to design one, but rather one of me not having any idea how to make one. If you find a good example I'd be happy to clone it.
@Shani Ace: I was thinking about these slider cases as well, but as you mentioned, they are very hard to find. Also, they are tiny since they were designed for much smaller phones. I wanted a keyboard that would be about the same size as my phone.
I too got the Moto Z Play for the keyboard mod. Quite a disappointment.
I have been using the keyboard with only a snap-on clip for the last few weeks and that seems quite practical. If I need the keyboard, I snap it on. If I don't need it, I snap it off. But the clamp on the keyboard makes it a very awkward shape to carry it around. But I think I figured out a solution that is almost as good as a slider, and that's a swivel hinge (I think they are called that way). So the phone would then rotate like a Nokia Twist, but with the joint in the center of the side of the phone and it would rotate 180 degrees. That would store the keyboard the same way as on a slider, but it would be way easier to make and sturdier. Combine that with a locking swivel mechanism and easy detachability for when you only need the phone.
What fo you think?
@eske.rahn I actually used those snap-on keyboards for a while on an S6 edge and later again with a S7.
But there were a few downsides which made me switch again:
* no backlight
* it limits screen size significantly (I countered that by reducing the DPI, but still...)
* the display ratio is wierd (some apps didn't scale that well, you have to scroll a lot)
* while the keys were definitely better than those of the BB Priv, they were still not nearly as good as on classic sliders like the Droid 4
@Dakkaron I had to fiddle around a lot with those keyboard cases (something would constantly fall apart, usually the springs) and their mechanism seemed quite simple. Although maybe that was the reason why they weren't stable enough for daily usage, who knows.
From what I remember, the pictures and campaign updates for the moto keyboard mod were quite similar though.
If you scroll down to the section titled "Sliding Mechanism" here, you can still see the pictures of it. Maybe that helps?
Personally, I'm not a fan of swivel mechanisms (also don't need to detach).
Then I'd rather go with a flip (like your current one) or clamshell (Gemini) design, but don't particularly like those either.
Problem is, the Gemini PDA is somewhat impractical when you're on the go. You can't really open it one-handed and the keyboard is so huge (and not backlit) that you end up having to look at it while typing and you need to be a real finger acrobat to input certain symbols.
I was just tempted to buy a Droid 4 or Photon Q off ebay again, but then I remembered they don't support LTE over here...
Guess I really have to wait a few more months. I just hope the q-device will actually make it to a full product.
@Dakkaron and @Shani Ace at least the snap on can be clicked on the back too. (and on the S8 even as a camera protector) But I tend to simply carry the keyboard in the shirt-pocket, as it is so light. And yes the lack of backlight is really bad - especially as they do not have a mode where the software keyboard layout is identical to the hardware one, and this really confuses my memory... It would cost virtually NOTHING for them to offer as an optional layout, and would make it so much simpler to switch, depending on the length of the text we need to enter.
Note that the S8 is much more suited for this than the S6, as the native display is so extremely elongated.
And sure the snap-on is not really a solution. But it is tolerable workaround for some months, until we hopefully get a Q-device. :angel:
(And it is REALLY cumbersome to use in real-life in Danish, the frequently used national letters are a little hard to get, and it does not interact well with the word-prediction/spellchecker - and unfortunately they are VERY common in Danish)
Oh, I thought the S7 was the last device to get that keyboard cover. Guess I mistook the S9 for the S8. ^^
But now I remember another downside: it didn work with custom roms. Has that situation improved with the S8?
If so, that might actually be worth a try, at least for a few months.
I was one of the keyboard mod backers and now I will get the same bluetooth keyboard as you have. So please keep us informed
I found a simple approach with an attachable cover. I'm thinking of adding a simple slide-out mechanism to the back of a cheap case.
Snoere said:
I'm thinking of adding a simple slide-out mechanism to the back of a cheap case.
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Hey, if you're successful with that, would you mind posting a how-to or even do it for others (for money) as well? Btw I'm also from Germany, so shipping would not be a problem.
Snoere said:
I was one of the keyboard mod backers and now I will get the same bluetooth keyboard as you have. So please keep us informed
I found a simple approach with an attachable cover. I'm thinking of adding a simple slide-out mechanism to the back of a cheap case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually you can get better solutions for the aPple Iphone6. See e.g. https://eskerahn.dk/wordpress/?p=554
But BE AWARE though standard BT keyboards works on Iphones, many Iphone keyboards does NOT work on standard phones/phablets...:silly:
I know it's a little off-topic, but @eske.rahn Mind answering my question from before (I guess it wasn't really clear, my bad)?
You said you were using the S8 with the keyboard cover. Does that still limited you to stock-based ROMs or is there a solution to use the keyboard cover with other ROMs (like RR, Lineage etc.) as well?
I just got an S7 and the keyboard cover will arrive in a few days, so I'm prepping everything right now to turn it into my daily driver until the q-device is released.