I just wanted to take up a little bit of space to toss out some observations that I have had with the 4.0.4 experiment.
A few weeks ago I bit the bullet and unlocked, rooted, and brought to life the leaked 4.0.4 update. Prior to that I was really enjoying my GN. Sure my signal wasn't switching easily from 3G to 4G (living in DC) and I wasn't really paying attention to any speaker issue - hell, I hardly use it to talk to people (isn't that what texting is for?) - and the battery life...well I figured it had more to do with the screen, the 4G searching, etc. I was enjoying my phone and was mostly blown away with what it offered to me.
Thinking that maybe my signal issues were related to hardware and not software I went to my friendly neighborhood V-store and talked to the people there. My SIM card was switched out and I was told to keep an eye and if it doesn't improve they will swap out devices. So off I went with a new SIM and curiosity to see what was going to happen.
After a few days and not seeing much of a difference (which I figured would be the case since I am on these boards every day, not posting but reading a lot) I decided to take the plunge and see what everyone is talking about in regards to rooting, unlocking, and playing with the magical 4.0.4 before it is fully released.
Boy was all that easy, and on a MAC too. I did everything that needed to be done and started to experiment. I felt I hopped the fence to see if the grass was greener and found that, yes, in fact it was. My battery life improved a little, I wouldn't say heavy drastic measures, but some signs of longer life. MY signal from nothing to 3G to 4G was awesome to watch. I could walk out from the studio here in the basement with little to no signal, up the stairs to the main floor and see the 3G take hold and then before I'm at the end of the block the 4G is pinging all the way. I also noticed that the phone was snappier and responded better in general use. A very nice upgrade.
Yeah, there were a couple problems that I encountered, mainly not finding some apps in the market that I previously had, and not sure about having to do things all over to get the OEM when it finally comes out, and future upgrades. But for the time I was wow'ed by the phone and liked to try and show it off whenever I could...especially to my wife who has a 3Gs iPhone.
But I started to think....is this real or is it psychosomatic. Was it that I knew I was running the updated OS so of course everything 'must' be working better. Was it all in my head or were these results based on reality and not daydreaming of that luscious green grass I was now standing on.
Well, last night before heading home from work I put it to the test and unrooted, locked, and went back to factory 4.0.2. My thought was I could see if it actually makes as much of a difference as I think and hell, at least I will be prepared for the 4.0.4 OTA update in March of 20XX when it comes out. I could install the missing apps and be on my merry way.
The signal here in the studio hasn't changed much, but then again in a basement, surrounded by concrete and no windows what do I expect. Walking from the building to the metro I was on 3G the entire time. The only time I went to 4G was when I rebooted the phone later on the metro ride after I hit above ground. When I lost the 4G signal after that I would have to toggle 4G off and then on. After that it comes and goes but is very slow at switching over. The general use of the phone, the snappiness and speed of 4.0.4 is not a myth. I am noticing differences between the two versions.
So let me also proclaim here that yes, 4.0.4 is certainly worth it and does make the GN really sing like a lot of people were expecting. But, Blue, you said you were going to keep 4.0.2 until the OTA, why? For one, some of the apps aren't missing any more and two I don't want to have to always be bouncing back and forth between phone set-ups in order to get the OTAs. Yeah I know they are leaked early, but if it means that I can't run some things (either because the app doesn't like unlocked, or rooted phones, or I did something wrong) then I will just sit and wait patiently.....for now haha
I know what to expect from (hopefully) soon to be delivered updates and when they arrive I will have the best of both worlds with a kick ass phone.
Just wanted to share my experience and thanks for the space.
A few weeks ago I bit the bullet and unlocked, rooted, and brought to life the leaked 4.0.4 update. Prior to that I was really enjoying my GN. Sure my signal wasn't switching easily from 3G to 4G (living in DC) and I wasn't really paying attention to any speaker issue - hell, I hardly use it to talk to people (isn't that what texting is for?) - and the battery life...well I figured it had more to do with the screen, the 4G searching, etc. I was enjoying my phone and was mostly blown away with what it offered to me.
Thinking that maybe my signal issues were related to hardware and not software I went to my friendly neighborhood V-store and talked to the people there. My SIM card was switched out and I was told to keep an eye and if it doesn't improve they will swap out devices. So off I went with a new SIM and curiosity to see what was going to happen.
After a few days and not seeing much of a difference (which I figured would be the case since I am on these boards every day, not posting but reading a lot) I decided to take the plunge and see what everyone is talking about in regards to rooting, unlocking, and playing with the magical 4.0.4 before it is fully released.
Boy was all that easy, and on a MAC too. I did everything that needed to be done and started to experiment. I felt I hopped the fence to see if the grass was greener and found that, yes, in fact it was. My battery life improved a little, I wouldn't say heavy drastic measures, but some signs of longer life. MY signal from nothing to 3G to 4G was awesome to watch. I could walk out from the studio here in the basement with little to no signal, up the stairs to the main floor and see the 3G take hold and then before I'm at the end of the block the 4G is pinging all the way. I also noticed that the phone was snappier and responded better in general use. A very nice upgrade.
Yeah, there were a couple problems that I encountered, mainly not finding some apps in the market that I previously had, and not sure about having to do things all over to get the OEM when it finally comes out, and future upgrades. But for the time I was wow'ed by the phone and liked to try and show it off whenever I could...especially to my wife who has a 3Gs iPhone.
But I started to think....is this real or is it psychosomatic. Was it that I knew I was running the updated OS so of course everything 'must' be working better. Was it all in my head or were these results based on reality and not daydreaming of that luscious green grass I was now standing on.
Well, last night before heading home from work I put it to the test and unrooted, locked, and went back to factory 4.0.2. My thought was I could see if it actually makes as much of a difference as I think and hell, at least I will be prepared for the 4.0.4 OTA update in March of 20XX when it comes out. I could install the missing apps and be on my merry way.
The signal here in the studio hasn't changed much, but then again in a basement, surrounded by concrete and no windows what do I expect. Walking from the building to the metro I was on 3G the entire time. The only time I went to 4G was when I rebooted the phone later on the metro ride after I hit above ground. When I lost the 4G signal after that I would have to toggle 4G off and then on. After that it comes and goes but is very slow at switching over. The general use of the phone, the snappiness and speed of 4.0.4 is not a myth. I am noticing differences between the two versions.
So let me also proclaim here that yes, 4.0.4 is certainly worth it and does make the GN really sing like a lot of people were expecting. But, Blue, you said you were going to keep 4.0.2 until the OTA, why? For one, some of the apps aren't missing any more and two I don't want to have to always be bouncing back and forth between phone set-ups in order to get the OTAs. Yeah I know they are leaked early, but if it means that I can't run some things (either because the app doesn't like unlocked, or rooted phones, or I did something wrong) then I will just sit and wait patiently.....for now haha
I know what to expect from (hopefully) soon to be delivered updates and when they arrive I will have the best of both worlds with a kick ass phone.
Just wanted to share my experience and thanks for the space.
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