Google Nexus 7 Discussion Thread

[purdz]

sorry for the double post but a great app to get is tablet talk, it syncs sms messages from your phone and let's you reply via your tablet. It's basically the same as using your phone. works over wifi or bluetooth.

[cam1986]

Is the Nexus a better buy than an iPad?

[Gordy]

Is the Nexus a better buy than an iPad?

Depends on what you want. The better tablet is the iPad. Is it worth twice the price? I don't know, that's down to the individual. I'd be tempted to wait to see what the kindle fire brings and the rumoured iPad mini.

[Bunjiweb]

Depends on what you want. The better tablet is the iPad.

I think that is entirely subjective, Personally I think the N7 is the better tablet as there are many things you can do on Android tablets that you couldn't even think of doing on an iPad... For the money, the N7 is currently the best tablet out there IF you don't need / want external SD storage and you are happy with the 10" screen size.

[Biscuit]

you can use USB OTG without root now btw guys, this allows you to connect a USB Flash drive to it and access the videos/photos/documents.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ususb.importer

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1819541

I got a cable from ebay and it works a treat

[Gordy]

I think that is entirely subjective, Personally I think the N7 is the better tablet as there are many things you can do on Android tablets that you couldn't even think of doing on an iPad... For the money, the N7 is currently the best tablet out there IF you don't need / want external SD storage and you are happy with the 10" screen size.

Not criticising you, but have you used/owned both? I think the nexus is great, it's nearly as good as the iPad. The software/apps and build quality let it down. I'm very interested to hear how other former iPad owners think the Nexus compares.

It has some advantages though, such as form factor. I take the nexus far more places than I ever took my ipad. I often sling it in my jeans pocket if I think I will have some time to waste. It's great for that.

I suppose they are two different beasts so comparing them is always going to be subjective.

[Agent]

The software/apps and build quality let it down.

I'm not a Apple person, but the other half is. We have both Android and Apple stuff in the house (probably a bit too much of both in all honesty ).

If you don't mind me asking in which way do you not think the apps let it down? I'm finding it hard to call the apps between either devices, both are very polished these days. I'd have agreed with you a year or two back, but today? I couldn't call it.

[Gordy]

I'm not a Apple person, but the other half is. We have both Android and Apple stuff in the house (probably a bit too much of both in all honesty ).

If you don't mind me asking in which way do you not think the apps let it down? I'm finding it hard to call the apps between either devices, both are very polishes these days. I'd have agreed with you a year or two back, but today? I couldn't call it.

Well for one there are very few real tablet apps. They are nearly all phone apps, which means you don't get to really use the full advantages of the larger screen.

Then the apps that are there are not as good as the iOS equivalents. EG iPlayer, Skype, Ebay, any of the twitter apps, etc. The email apps are not nearly as good as the iOS one. I've tried 4 different ones and ton of different twitter apps and haven't yet seen one that has been designed with real passion and design. There is nothing in the league of Pages or Numbers on the Nexus. All the Office apps I've tried aren't very good.

Even the inbuilt apps are not as good. Gallery is slow and not so good. That said there are some Apps that are as good or have other advantages over their iOS equivalents. Instapaper for example and the Dead Trigger game. It's just they seem to be in the minority.

[Biscuit]

Well for one there are very few real tablet apps. They are nearly all phone apps, which means you don't get to really use the full advantages of the larger screen.

Then the apps that are there are not as good as the iOS equivalents. EG iPlayer, Skype, Ebay, any of the twitter apps, etc. The email apps are not nearly as good as the iOS one. I've tried 4 different ones and ton of different twitter apps and haven't yet seen one that has been designed with real passion and design. There is nothing in the league of Pages or Numbers on the Nexus. All the Office apps I've tried aren't very good.

Even the inbuilt apps are not as good. Gallery is slow and not so good. That said there are some Apps that are as good or have other advantages over their iOS equivalents. Instapaper for example and the Dead Trigger game. It's just they seem to be in the minority.

There are loads of apps that are better on android. Drop box, evernote, soundcloud to name a few. Default contacts app is better, I prefer the default android mail client aswell tbh.

Pages and numbers are only of any genuine use if you use mac anyway, switching between them and ms office has (in my experience) not resulted in a success.

The biggest thing you are forgetting is how awesome Google apps are becoming on tablet ;-)

[cub1061]

Just got one to replace my other tablet which was dropped and crack the internal screen. It feel better and seem alot faster than my pervious tablet. Loving it so far

[shakerist]

Got my nexus 7 16gb from Curry's today , loving everything about it :-)

Biscuit can u recommend me a good ROM and kernel which provides the best battery life.

Also is it possible to get notification power widget ?

[unreal]

Ok, gave in, flogging my iPad 1 and anticipating getting one of these. There seems to be quite a lot of tablets coming out quite similar to the Nexus 7 now, and I was originally going to wait for the iPad Mini announcement (along with the MS Surface coming out) but I don't think my patience will let me haha.

In all fairness too, I see a lot of people on this forum in general forget that most tech users are ironically not that tech savvy and enjoy simplicity in form. A few replies up, someone asked which is the better tablet and despite me selling my iPad for a Nexus 7, I agree that the iPad 3 is the better tablet. After using them both pretty often (I only just left a mobile development agency, so we literally had every relevant device to today) the iPad obviously has the dominant lively App marketplace which is one of the most significant key factors users should consider with a tablet purchase. Once the smaller iPad comes out too, Android tablets are once again going to have a pretty tough time penetrating the tight grip Apple has on the tablet marketshare. But that's a different story altogether. My opinions and advice anyway.

But yeah boom boom, should be good! I assume the custom ROM community for the Nexus 7 is pretty good by now as well? Although seeing as it comes with a fine tuned Vanilla 4.1.1, I may actually just leave that on.

[Biscuit]

Got my nexus 7 16gb from Curry's today , loving everything about it :-)

Biscuit can u recommend me a good ROM and kernel which provides the best battery life.

Also is it possible to get notification power widget ?

I just use the stock rom and kernel, i never have issues with battery really, It's pretty good overall.
There are a couple of options for power notification. I use something called widgetsoid which gives you a good customisable power/connection controls bar. That can also tell you your battery. If you are looking for something a bit bigger have a look at the minimalist text widget and uccw. There is loads of skins available on xda developers so you don't have to spend ages building stuff.

[Biscuit]

There was an OTA update for the nexus today, 4.1.2.

Apparently it allows landscape orientation for the home screen, not figured it out yet. Haven't noticed anything discernible yet but only had it on for 30 mins.

[mycarsavw]

Mine got it a few days ago.

I'd paid for the rotation app and now I don't need it(!) - I've not noticed anything else though.

[Biscuit]

Well you have used it for a good few months up unti now so it was hardly money wasted

How do you get it to engage the rotation without the ultimate rotation installed?