I'm excited.
Today, Google released an update for its iOS app. In that update, the amazing new voice search function from Google Now has been largely carried over to iOS, and it made me get to thinking about how beautiful Google's software has become, and how nice it looks on the gorgeous hardware that is the iPhone 4s.
About that beautiful software.
The Nexus 4 is going to be great. Jellybean 4.2 is filled with so many understated features that really express through software, and through computer and human interaction, how much attention to detail is being paid here. "Wouldn't it be nice to have toggles in the pull down area, on stock Android?" Done. "What if I wanted to access them instantly with a two finger gesture?" Also, done. Surely, I'm not the only one who realizes how important and powerful these small, yet "tucked away" features are? Last night, I was cruising Google+ and spent some time looking at photographs taken with the Nexus 4 using the 360 feature, they're ridiculously good. Oh and by the way, if you haven't seen the 4.2 upgrades to the camera interface, you really should, the "thumbing to change settings" is brilliant. Let's say I'm taking a picture of my dog on an overcast day, and just before I go to snap the perfect picture, a cloud breaks and the sun cuts through; no problem, simply slide my thumb to the right and then down and disable the flash, let go - boom, picture taken. Seamless, beautiful and "usercentric." I'm not really into widget's but many people love them! Well, now you can put a gmail widget right on your lock screen, pull the phone out see a preview, and be on your way. The Nexus 4 is gorgeous software.
About that gorgeous 4s, and it is - and that matters.
Ya know, people give Apple a lot of guff for creating their devices form first, and to an extent they may be doing just that. But, as a long time (G1 here folks) Android user, who for the last few months has used a 4s, I can say that in my opinion it does matter that a device is made of beautiful materials and feels like cutting edge technology. Holding a device that feels substantial, holding a device and scrolling over cold glass with a warm finger watching all of the information of the world bend to your every gesture is fantastic and it makes the user develop a kinship with their hardware. It feels like something that you may find in your Grandfather's old war chest. It feels like a well machined piece of engineering.
Keeping that in mind, I am delighted to see reports swirling around the internet which are rather unanimous in stating that the Nexus 4 feels substantial. It feels every bit the expensive, flagship smartphone. If you're coming from a Samsung, (who definitely makes a great device) and the build quality on the N4 is anything like what I am reading, you will be a convert within two weeks. A convert to the notion that a smartphone built like someone cared, makes a difference in your usage of that device. How can it not? Almost everything we seek to pull from our phones comes to us in a physically intangible form, therefore our tangible relationships to these devices are limited and in that magnified in importance. Build quality, Audio quality and Display. And in case you haven't heard, LG has knocked that one (the display) out of the park as well. Oh and have you seen this device? It's sleek, sexy, sophisticated and has just the right splash of charisma to tie it all together perfectly. The Nexus 4 is gorgeous hardware.
The saga continues, and when the Nexus torch is officially
beamed from the Galaxy Nexus to the Nexus 4, Android will have take a really complete and major step towards becoming something a little more. A little more focused on the user, and a little more respectably built. A little more Nexus, by helping many (like myself) escape the ridiculous stranglehold of the carriers, so also, a little more fiscally appropriate.
No, neither the Nexus 4 or JB 4.2 has a "ZOMGBBQWATDAFUQWALRUSWHISKERS" feature or spec, but what it does have is a little more. The Nexus 4 is going to be great.
I'm excited.
Today, Google released an update for its iOS app. In that update, the amazing new voice search function from Google Now has been largely carried over to iOS, and it made me get to thinking about how beautiful Google's software has become, and how nice it looks on the gorgeous hardware that is the iPhone 4s.
About that beautiful software.
The Nexus 4 is going to be great. Jellybean 4.2 is filled with so many understated features that really express through software, and through computer and human interaction, how much attention to detail is being paid here. "Wouldn't it be nice to have toggles in the pull down area, on stock Android?" Done. "What if I wanted to access them instantly with a two finger gesture?" Also, done. Surely, I'm not the only one who realizes how important and powerful these small, yet "tucked away" features are? Last night, I was cruising Google+ and spent some time looking at photographs taken with the Nexus 4 using the 360 feature, they're ridiculously good. Oh and by the way, if you haven't seen the 4.2 upgrades to the camera interface, you really should, the "thumbing to change settings" is brilliant. Let's say I'm taking a picture of my dog on an overcast day, and just before I go to snap the perfect picture, a cloud breaks and the sun cuts through; no problem, simply slide my thumb to the right and then down and disable the flash, let go - boom, picture taken. Seamless, beautiful and "usercentric." I'm not really into widget's but many people love them! Well, now you can put a gmail widget right on your lock screen, pull the phone out see a preview, and be on your way. The Nexus 4 is gorgeous software.
About that gorgeous 4s, and it is - and that matters.
Ya know, people give Apple a lot of guff for creating their devices form first, and to an extent they may be doing just that. But, as a long time (G1 here folks) Android user, who for the last few months has used a 4s, I can say that in my opinion it does matter that a device is made of beautiful materials and feels like cutting edge technology. Holding a device that feels substantial, holding a device and scrolling over cold glass with a warm finger watching all of the information of the world bend to your every gesture is fantastic and it makes the user develop a kinship with their hardware. It feels like something that you may find in your Grandfather's old war chest. It feels like a well machined piece of engineering.
Keeping that in mind, I am delighted to see reports swirling around the internet which are rather unanimous in stating that the Nexus 4 feels substantial. It feels every bit the expensive, flagship smartphone. If you're coming from a Samsung, (who definitely makes a great device) and the build quality on the N4 is anything like what I am reading, you will be a convert within two weeks. A convert to the notion that a smartphone built like someone cared, makes a difference in your usage of that device. How can it not? Almost everything we seek to pull from our phones comes to us in a physically intangible form, therefore our tangible relationships to these devices are limited and in that magnified in importance. Build quality, Audio quality and Display. And in case you haven't heard, LG has knocked that one (the display) out of the park as well. Oh and have you seen this device? It's sleek, sexy, sophisticated and has just the right splash of charisma to tie it all together perfectly. The Nexus 4 is gorgeous hardware.
The saga continues, and when the Nexus torch is officially
beamed from the Galaxy Nexus to the Nexus 4, Android will have take a really complete and major step towards becoming something a little more. A little more focused on the user, and a little more respectably built. A little more Nexus, by helping many (like myself) escape the ridiculous stranglehold of the carriers, so also, a little more fiscally appropriate. No, neither the Nexus 4 or JB 4.2 has a "ZOMGBBQWATDAFUQWALRUSWHISKERS" feature or spec, but what it does have is a little more. The Nexus 4 is going to be great.
I'm excited.
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