So some thoughts on Nexus 5 coming from iOS

[JohnnyBroccoli]

Re: So some thoughts on nexus 5 coming from iOS.

Using both platforms will be expensive. There is no way around that. Thats why most people pick one or the other.

Not really. I recently switched from a lifetime of exclusively using Apple products to bouncing my iPhone for a Nexus 5.

Repurchased 1 or 2 apps, purchased 1 app to sync music via iTunes, bought an extra micro USB cable, and a high powered multi-input car charger. All together this was less than $30 and at this point I don't need anything else to use both platforms with ease (I continue to use an iMac as my main/only desktop, an iPod classic for massive tunes in the car, and my iPod compatible Alpine car stereo face).

 

[JohnnyBroccoli]

Nope. It has nothing to do with calls and texts.

So you're telling me you can make phone calls with the stock phone app via WiFi signal only?

 

[neonworm]

So you're telling me you can make phone calls with the stock phone app via WiFi signal only?

No. I am just saying that even if you have mobile data off you can still send texts and make phone calls. Mobile data relates to the Internet. Not calls or texts.

 

[yfan]

While battery life isn't phenomenal, constantly checking it causes you to use more screen time than necessary, which in turn drains your battery.

Personally, I have always been paranoid about battery life. But I don't constantly check it. I carry around a power pack with me in case I need it. I have a wireless charger at home and another at my office that I have made a habit to put my phone on (in fact, this habit is so easy to form that I am afraid I can't get off it now if I want a phone that doesn't support wireless charging).

As for your other gadgets, depending on what you use your computer for, you can replace your PC (or Mac) with a Chromebook for most things. And if you aren't gaming on your Apple TV, consider selling it and getting a Chromecast. You'd have change left over.

 

[LegalAmerican]

So you're telling me you can make phone calls with the stock phone app via WiFi signal only?

I'm interested to see what Neonworm says, but I thought Data was just for apps and the web, while the carrier service signal was entirely seperate, and that was what was used to send SMS or make voice calls.

 

[LegalAmerican]

I'm kind of annoyed though that u have to monitor if apps are ducking down battery unnecessarily. Why cant everything just work nice together?

That's the million dollar question. I've known people who owned iPhones who had issues with rogue apps draining the battery as well. It's more a smartphone thing than it is an Android thing like some would want you to believe.

 

[JohnnyBroccoli]

Pretty sure you guys are correct. Just turned off my mobile data (and Wi-Fi) and was able to send a text successfully.

 

[JohnnyBroccoli]

That's the million dollar question. I've known people who owned iPhones who had issues with rogue apps draining the battery as well. It's more a smartphone thing than it is an Android thing like some would want you to believe.

In my personal experience, the problem seems to be more directly related to Android (though not exclusive to it by any means).

 

[LegalAmerican]

In my personal experience, the problem seems to be more directly related to Android (though not exclusive to it by any means).

Yeah it definitely could be, it would be interesting to see a study done with some solid data. I just know that i've seen the problem firsthand on both platforms.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Signal strength could possibly have an effect, as well. From my experience, my N5 on Sprint would make 9 hours, playing a few games on lunch, browsing the forums on and off throughout the day. And my signal was horrid. I too, turned location reporting to battery saving, and left auto brightness off and left it at a constant level.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[RavenSword]

Another quick question: I just got down cleaning my phone screen with a bit of LCD screen cleaner on a microfiber cloth. I Didn't press too hard when wiping it, just a bit of pressure. I'm assuming that cleaner is cool to use on my phone screen?

I'm also noticing that some pictures I look at in my Dropbox app have this weird blotchyness and blackiness in parts of the image. Look like a smear of sorts. I also notice this on my new us 7 as well. Is this JPEG compression or artifacting? I don't know too much about that stuff. Or is it a screen quality issue?

 

[B. Diddy]

LCD screen cleaner should be ok. But really, all you need is a microfiber cloth, unless there's actual gunk caked onto the screen.

The blotchiness might just be an artifact of viewing a dark area on an LCD, which happens on many devices with LCD screens. It isn't a problem with the image file itself. If you were to print out that image, the blotchiness wouldn't be there. It's most noticeable when you're looking at it while in a dark room.

 

[RavenSword]

LCD screen cleaner should be ok. But really, all you need is a microfiber cloth, unless there's actual gunk caked onto the screen.

The blotchiness might just be an artifact of viewing a dark area on an LCD, which happens on many devices with LCD screens. It isn't a problem with the image file itself. If you were to print out that image, the blotchiness wouldn't be there. It's most noticeable when you're looking at it while in a dark room.

Yeah, there was gunk on it.

It looks like I only see it on those certain images in my Dropbox. And like I said, u see it on my other devices as well.

 

[thatdennis]

So, I have been using a nexus 5 for the past 3 days , and I have some thoughts coming from a 5S.

So, the first thing I noticed was battery life. Maybe it's me using my nexus 5 a lot, but I can't seem to really make it until the end of the day comfortably. And I'm honestly using it as much as I did my 5S.

I also remember why I liked widgets, but honestly I think I just prefer opening the app instead. So maybe I'm not the right person to make use of them.

I notice I'm micromanaging the phone a lot to try and extend battery life. Such as eliminating background refreshing in apps, location stuff, constantly looking at my battery usage screen, and etc. it feels like I might be turning off stuff that makes android android though. Is this babying necessary?

And also, I'm worrying how a potential permanent switch to android for my phone is going to impact my already existing apple products and possible future ones. I have a iPad, a Apple TV, and I plan on getting a MacBook over a laptop PC one day . I still like apple products a lot. I just don't think their phones might do it for me right now.

Hey, why not buy a casing WITH a external battery charger? I mean a casing that when activated could in tandem charge the phone?

 

[hVarun]

I am facing a issue with updating the play music library on my new nexus 5. From the file manager I have removed some of the songs and also copied some new songs to the device using android file transfer app for Mac... I am unable to see the newly added files in. The library and the old files are still in library, clicking on which it shows unable to play.. How do I see the changes made reflected on the play music app?? Also she I download a music player from the store, the updated albums are shown there.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[UJ95x]

I'm interested to see what Neonworm says, but I thought Data was just for apps and the web, while the carrier service signal was entirely seperate, and that was what was used to send SMS or make voice calls.

This is correct. Voice and data are separate. You can send SMS and make phone calls with mobile data off, but can only send MMS and use web services with it on, or with WiFi

 

[UJ95x]

I'm kind of annoyed though that u have to monitor if apps are ducking down battery unnecessarily. Why cant everything just work nice together?

You don't have to. The only time you should be closing apps/clearing RAM is when that app is either not working, or you know you will no longer use it. Android does better when the RAM is full (As opposed to Windows which does the opposite) and clearing it is more detrimental to battery life than if you were to leave it running. Turn off location reporting and any syncing/push notifications or change the refresh interval. The idle time won't be as good as the iPhone, but screen on time should be pretty close or better.

 

[B. Diddy]

I am facing a issue with updating the play music library on my new nexus 5. From the file manager I have removed some of the songs and also copied some new songs to the device using android file transfer app for Mac... I am unable to see the newly added files in. The library and the old files are still in library, clicking on which it shows unable to play.. How do I see the changes made reflected on the play music app?? Also she I download a music player from the store, the updated albums are shown there.

Posted via Android Central App

Welcome to Android Central! In Google Play Music, swipe in from the left, then tap Settings/Refresh, and see if that helps.

If it doesn't, tell us what format the music files you transferred are in. If it's a less common file format, Play Music might not support it natively.

Another thing to try is to go to Settings/Apps/All, select Google Play Music, and Clear Cache and Data. Then open it again and wait a few minutes for the databases to repopulate.

Posted via Android Central App--please excuse the brevity and any typos!

 

[jj14x]

Android does better when the RAM is full (As opposed to Windows which does the opposite)

While I agree with the rest of your post, this is not entirely accurate. Android isn't going to do "better" just because the RAM is full. If the app that user wants to launch was previously loaded, and is still in RAM, then, yes, it will launch a little faster. But having the RAM filled (with other apps) isn't going to make the new app launch any faster.
Windows does the same BTW - if the application to be launched is already in RAM, it will launch faster.

 

[UJ95x]

While I agree with the rest of your post, this is not entirely accurate. Android isn't going to do "better" just because the RAM is full. If the app that user wants to launch was previously loaded, and is still in RAM, then, yes, it will launch a little faster. But having the RAM filled (with other apps) isn't going to make the new app launch any faster.
Windows does the same BTW - if the application to be launched is already in RAM, it will launch faster.

Yeah, I'm aware of that. I was referring only to the apps that are already in the RAM. My point was that he should not be clearing the RAM if the apps are being used constantly.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2