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[The Faceless Master]

And, of course, views on this issue vary. Some have a strong preference for stock Android, and anything attempting to subvert or otherwise ‘break’ Android the way Google intended it (unless Google’s intentions sucked) is a waste of time. Others are more concerned with how it works: is it smooth, fluid, and functional? And, of course, there are the typical arguments about SD cards, removable batteries, and plastique.

With any newly-announced phone comes the time for the passing of judgement: is there a dealbreaker? That is, would a particular flaw (or feature, as the case may be) actually be a reason to not buy a phone? As anyone in any tech blog comment section will tell you, literally every single smartphone on the market has dealbreakers. All of them.

That is such a backward-ass way of thinking, and excuse my bluntness for saying it, but it’s utterly counterproductive.

Anyway, back to dealbreakers. Some of the ones I hear often are SD card or a removable battery. That is, lacking those things is basically smartphone sacrilege. Sometimes, though, they’re a little more… eccentric. Maybe you absolutely 100% need an MHL-compliant phone for HDMI out. Or an unlockable bootloader is necessary. And perhaps you just can’t live without a video app that pops out and floats over the UI.

The thing is, though, none of the aforementioned things (including SD cards and removable batteries) are actually necessary to have a good experience on a modern smartphone. I’m sorry, they just aren’t. They’re only necessary if <insert relatively niche circumstance here.> And I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, because there isn’t. Not that many people need an SUV that can go off road with more than 1&#8242; of ground clearance, but there are vehicles out there that will readily meet that specification, and that’s good. But let's be realistic: nearly 40% of all smartphones sold in America have a 4" or smaller display, no expandable storage, and a totally locked down user experience. And, shocker, most of the people living with those products are decidedly happier with them than the industry average.

seriously, read the full article -> http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...uldnt-hate-any-high-end-smartphone-right-now/


i read this article and the first thing i thought was "i guess someone REALLY likes the HTC One and doesn't want to look bad for their previous comments on batteries and sd cards", and then i re-read it today and really thought about it... and i still feel the same way. i mean, are most people outright hating? or are people just saying "well, that's good, but this is better because ___" and then getting responses that disagree for various reasons? i mean, is anyone REALLY saying any of the flagship mobile handsets is a BAD device?

 

[BertramCooper]

As a Nexus 4 owner, the hyperbole over LTE is the most annoying.

The tech media acts like HSPA+ is practically dial-up, and any phone without LTE is borderline useless.

 

[greycolumbus]

As a Nexus 4 owner, the hyperbole over LTE is the most annoying.

The tech media acts like HSPA+ is practically dial-up, and any phone without LTE is borderline useless.

Yeah, this annoys me as well.

 

[clav]

Where does the Facebook phone fit in the picture?

 

[Cipherr]

i mean, is anyone REALLY saying any of the flagship mobile handsets is a BAD device?

I'm certainly not. I completely realize that a non removable battery, no micro sd and whatnot do not make a phone total shite.

Its just that I prefer to have those things in the end. Sometimes a simple preference like that can get ballooned in heated debate into hyperbole infused, end of the world, serious business nonsense. I notice this a lot in the thread when we are talking about TW versus Sense and Stock. I love stock over everything, but the vitriol directed at some of the skins is more severe than it was back in early 2011 when the skins were ACTUALLY shit.

That doesn't make sense to me. I owned those old ass phones, I remember how bad they really were. The OEM overlays of today ain't got shit on the old school skins.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

I don't think anyone thinks any of the flagships these days are bad phones, but they do have shortcomings that people value so it stings when a phone they want to like is missing one of those things, keeping them from it. This is usually expressed in many forms of rage.

 

[freenudemacusers]

In other words,

Apps > Specs

 

[LaserBuddha]

As a Nexus 4 owner, the hyperbole over LTE is the most annoying.

The tech media acts like HSPA+ is practically dial-up, and any phone without LTE is borderline useless.

Yeah, this annoys me as well.

Waiting for examples.

*skeleton.jpg*

 

[Voice of Reason]

In other words,

Apps > Specs

Yet I have a Windows Phone

 

[Naked Snake]

Something something Pentile, PPI, and vocal minority.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

I used to think that SD-cards were essential, but then I got my Samsung GN and I've yet to actually run into storage issues.
I guess it helps that I only use my phone for maps, occasional youtubing, social stuff - and not listening to gigs of musics or watching movies.

 

[Volotaire]

I'm sorry, I have a huge music collection, and the phone I am going to get (my first smartphone) will need a large capacity for this. Since phones don't really have this large capacity, I need an expansion slot. It is around 40-45 gb at the moment and ever growing as I love indie artists so it will eventually get enormous. Moreover, because the smartphone I will eventually get will be like a mini computer for me on the go, I will require a lot of services/games/apps that will also take up a lot of space. Add in a couple of movies/TV series and a no SD-Card slot phone is a deal breaker for me. I'm sorry, but people have different needs.

I do not want a extra device on me as I want a device that is all encompassing with for ease of use and portability and therefore the smartphone is ever important to everyday tasks.

I understand that maybe the majority do not need this space but some people (like me!) do need it.

 

[Cipherr]

In other words,

Apps > Specs

Except the article is not just talking about hardware (or specs as you call them) its also talking about the software as well.

I'm sorry, I have a huge music collection, and the phone I am going to get (my first smartphone) will need a large capacity for this. Since phones don't really have this large capacity, I need an expansion slot. It is around 40-45 gb at the moment and ever growing as I love indie artists so it will eventually get enormous. Moreover, because the smartphone i will eventually get will be like a mini computer for me on the go, I will require a lot of services/games/apps that will also take up a lot of space. Add in a couple of moves/TV series and a no SD-Card slot phone is a dealbreaker for me. I'm sorry people have different needs.

I do not want a extra device on me as I want a device that is all encompassing with for ease of use and portability and therefore the smartphone is ever important.

The article covers your situation. At no point does he ever say that there aren't some people with reasonable reasons for needing those things.

 

[Volotaire]

Except the article is not just talking about hardware (or specs as you call them) its also talking about the software as well.



The article covers your situation. At no point does he ever say that there aren't some people with reasonable reasons for needing those things.

Ah didn't read the full article. My bad!

 

[The Faceless Master]

In other words,

Apps > Specs

did you even read it? they talked about software, specs, hardware, build, all sorts of stuff.

I'm sorry, I have a huge music collection, and the phone I am going to get (my first smartphone) will need a large capacity for this. Since phones don't really have this large capacity, I need an expansion slot. It is around 40-45 gb at the moment and ever growing as I love indie artists so it will eventually get enormous. Moreover, because the smartphone I will eventually get will be like a mini computer for me on the go, I will require a lot of services/games/apps that will also take up a lot of space. Add in a couple of movies/TV series and a no SD-Card slot phone is a deal breaker for me. I'm sorry, but people have different needs.

I do not want a extra device on me as I want a device that is all encompassing with for ease of use and portability and therefore the smartphone is ever important to everyday tasks.

I understand that maybe the majority do not need this space but some people (like me!) do need it.

yep. i have a 64GB SDXC in my phone. the point isn't really about that though. i doubt my mom would need more than 16GB, though 8GB is pushing it nowadays!

 

[LaserBuddha]

I'd like to see the venn diagram of those people who harp on removable storage and batteries with every phone release (and every Apple hardware release, period) and people who use belt cell holsters. Don't ask me to explain why but I feel in my gut there is a huge overlap.

 

[The Faceless Master]

I'd like to see the venn diagram of those people who harp on removable storage and batteries with every phone release (and every Apple hardware release, period) and people who use belt cell holsters. Don't ask me to explain why but I feel in my gut there is a huge overlap.

circle me. +1 right here. i also have a bluetooth headset!

 

[Seth C]

I'm sorry, I have a huge music collection, and the phone I am going to get (my first smartphone) will need a large capacity for this. Since phones don't really have this large capacity, I need an expansion slot. It is around 40-45 gb at the moment and ever growing as I love indie artists so it will eventually get enormous. Moreover, because the smartphone I will eventually get will be like a mini computer for me on the go, I will require a lot of services/games/apps that will also take up a lot of space. Add in a couple of movies/TV series and a no SD-Card slot phone is a deal breaker for me. I'm sorry, but people have different needs.

I do not want a extra device on me as I want a device that is all encompassing with for ease of use and portability and therefore the smartphone is ever important to everyday tasks.

I understand that maybe the majority do not need this space but some people (like me!) do need it.

Would you rather carry an extra device or the charger for your phone? Because if you start turning it in to your everything, you won't have a phone to make calls with. the battery will be dead.

 

[GK86]

Yet I have a Windows Phone
http://i.minus.com/ite00jVZvkPcK.gif[/IM G][/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://i.minus.com/ite00jVZvkPcK.gif

 

[TAJ]

As a Nexus 4 owner, the hyperbole over LTE is the most annoying.

The tech media acts like HSPA+ is practically dial-up, and any phone without LTE is borderline useless.

Well, if you're not on Verizon your phone is useless anyway.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Would you rather carry an extra device or the charger for your phone? Because if you start turning it in to your everything, you won't have a phone to make calls with. the battery will be dead.

or carry an extra battery. or two.

 

[ComputerMKII]

It's easy to cover 90% of what people want from a smartphone. The remaining 10% will always be hard because -when it comes to details- people never want the same thing.

 

[Suite Pee]

Yeah, for the most part all mid-to-high spec smartphones cover all my needs. I do have 200 gigs of music, though, and would like to have removable storage for that. However, it's not a dealbreaker.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Well, if you're not on Verizon your phone is useless anyway.

well, coverage is everything. some people are perfectly fine with metroPCS because they are always in their coverage area...

It's easy to cover 90% of what people want from a smartphone. The remaining 10% will always be hard because -when it comes to details- people never want the same thing.

the group i feel for the most are people who want a small phone (<4") with high end specs. good luck with that.

 

[Volotaire]

Would you rather carry an extra device or the charger for your phone? Because if you start turning it in to your everything, you won't have a phone to make calls with. the battery will be dead.

or me, when I get my phone later this year, I'l be at university shouldn't be too long from accommodation. Moreover, as for the charging device, I've found a couple of solution of the folding plug that folds into a something that is about half the size of a phone with roughly the same thickness of larger phones, this would be ideal for this situation to carry around.

As for your original point again, it's a shame there hasn't been huge advances in battery tech. There will be instances where people would not be able to use it. But that's the cost I will have to pay for my multitasking needs.

https://www.themu.co.uk/ 41g

At 14x55x60mm, it has about the same footprint as a full sized plug when folded down, but is only as thick as a single AA battery &#8211; this thing is small.

Gizomodo UK

It's pretty great.

 

[TAJ]

well, coverage is everything. some people are perfectly fine with metroPCS because they are always in their coverage area.

If you're on a short enough leash you might not even need cell service. I drive all over for work, though.
It's not rare for me to be the only person with service. Probably a third of my minutes are other people using my phone, lol.

 

[Snowdrift]

Subjectively, on the Telus network I notice a pretty big difference between 4G and LTE.

But the trade-off is battery life. I often have my phone on airplane mode.

Other than battey life, hardware isn't the problem with smarthphones right now. Its the software. Sadly, there are still features I miss from my old Blackberry that haven't been implemented yet on Android.

 

[Devolution]

I just want better battery life. I already have the thing on several settings so it doesn't drain so fast but it doesn't matter. FML.

 

[ComputerMKII]

I just want better battery life. I already have the thing on several settings so it doesn't drain so fast but it doesn't matter. FML.

I'd wouldn't mind current battery lives if all phones had wireless charging.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Waiting for examples.

*skeleton.jpg*

you... can't be serious?

The Nexus 4 is an impressive smartphone that ticks off every modern spec checkbox you could ask for, save one: LTE. Instead, the Nexus 4 will only come unlocked with HSPA+ radios.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/29/3569688/why-nexus-4-does-not-have-4g-lte

Google&#8217;s newly introduced Nexus 4 device does not have LTE. Let that sink in for a moment. A flagship device that is meant to represent the best that Android can offer does not have LTE.

http://thenextweb.com/google/2012/1...planation-of-why-the-nexus-4-doesnt-have-lte/

Google packs fun new features into Nexus 4 smartphone - but limitations include lack of 4G LTE, battery life

http://www.eveningsun.com/ci_22675924/google-packs-fun-new-features-into-nexus-4

i especially love this one

The Nexus 4 doesn't have LTE because, unlike the iPhone 5, it's not a flagship phone, and was never intended to be

http://www.imore.com/nexus-4-not-flagship-phone

and for the bolded shit

In New York City, the difference between HSPA+ on T-Mobile and LTE on AT&T or Verizon is night and day. It's not even comparable. It really is like going from dial-up to broadband and going back to slower speeds is not fun.

http://mashable.com/2012/11/12/nexus-4-review/

 

[BigDes]

Are these people really hating on X smart phone or are they just finding ways to choose between an incredibly similar selection of products and then going on the internet and acting internetty?

 

[LaserBuddha]

you... can't be serious?

HSPA+ is inferior to LTE so there is nothing wrong with those quotes. You found one sole example of how supposedly "the tech media acts" in your last quote. It's not even a good example, as it compares the change in speed from HSPA to LTE to feeling like going from dial-up to broadband, which while hyperbolic, does not mean that HSPA+ operates at dial-up speed.

 

[The Faceless Master]

If you're on a short enough leash you might not even need cell service. I drive all over for work, though.
It's not rare for me to be the only person with service. Probably a third of my minutes are other people using my phone, lol.

i know that feeling.

HSPA+ is inferior to LTE so there is nothing wrong with those quotes. You found one sole example of how supposedly "the tech media acts" in your last quote. It's not even a good example, as it compares the change in speed from HSPA to LTE to feeling like going from dial-up to broadband, which while hyperbolic, does not mean that HSPA+ operates at dial-up speed.

HOL DAT L

 

[Cipherr]

HSPA+ is inferior to LTE so there is nothing wrong with those quotes. You found one sole example of how supposedly "the tech media acts" in your last quote. It's not even a good example, as it compares the change in speed from HSPA to LTE to feeling like going from dial-up to broadband, which while hyperbolic, does not mean that HSPA+ operates at dial-up speed.

Do you know how fast HSPA42 is?

LTE is definitely faster, but primarily for uploading. There aren't people with good HSPA+42 connections that are hurting for download speed man. Most people just don't realize it, or think that HSPA+42 speeds are the same old 8m down and 0.5 up that they expect from a 3G connection. But the HSPA+ modem in the Nexus 4 gets you great speed.

Also, you asked for examples and got exactly that.... cmon now...

 

[LaserBuddha]

Do you know how fast HSPA42 is?



LTE is definitely faster, but primarily for uploading. There aren't people with good HSPA+42 connections that are hurting for download speed man. Most people just don't realize it, or think that HSPA+42 speeds are the same old 8m down and 0.5 up that they expect from a 3G connection. But the HSPA+ modem in the Nexus 4 gets you great speed.

Also, you asked for examples and got exactly that.... cmon now...

None of which has anything to do with the false claim that the tech media treats those phones as useless. They're an enthusiast press, and part of their job is to analyze and compare small details of phones for an enthusiast market. Small details are going to matter more to them and their audience than most. None of that amounts to hyperbole about anti-HSPA+ lies.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Do you know how fast HSPA42 is?



LTE is definitely faster, but primarily for uploading. There aren't people with good HSPA+42 connections that are hurting for download speed man. Most people just don't realize it, or think that HSPA+42 speeds are the same old 8m down and 0.5 up that they expect from a 3G connection. But the HSPA+ modem in the Nexus 4 gets you great speed.

Also, you asked for examples and got exactly that.... cmon now...

one of these days the Speedtest app will finally be updated to be holo style...