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I second parallels. And Extra Ram. Windows on a Mac is a bit jarring, since the trackpad doesn’t work the way you expect it to (the fluidity and gestures of OSX) through bootcamp. And you can set up parallels to switch control and command, so you don’t have to switch back and forth between OSes.

I’m serious about that RAM though. I strictly use Windows for Solidworks, but it at least needs 2GB to run smoothly, so 8GB is a minimum. Right now I’m running with 16GB, with about 2.5GB left running Parallels (with 4GB dedicated to it).

I haven’t tried bootcamping on a SSD, though. It may not be as bad. Still not great. But much less waiting involved.

3 days ago on Windows 8 Performance on a macbook?

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I wouldn’t say so. When it first came out it was perfectly fine. But even then, it’s processor was actually pretty average at best. A low cost/low end Tegra 3 variant. It was just a big deal because no tablet at that price range would even get a processor like that, much less the other benefits.

5 days ago on Android amazes me

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Yeah he’s not fooling anyone. I have one as well. With 4.2 it’s slowed down quite a bit. I wouldn’t say laggy or janky so much as just slow. It was one of the major reasons I upgraded to a Nexus 4. Mid 2011 Android hardware just doesn’t hold up to late 2012 software apparently. No problems with the Nexus 4, though. Unlike the Gnex, the processor/gpu combo was overkill for the screen resolution, as opposed to just suitable enough to handle it.

5 days ago on Android amazes me 1 recommend

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No, that’s the thing. I don’t just write off any one post without a legitimate reason. I did read it. ALL of it. And I thought it was interesting (especially the EXTREMELY CHEESY quotes. Kanye West? Really? Liking his music is one thing, but do you really think he’s quotable (in a good way)). I don’t necessarily agree, but you have your own opinion, you put it out there, and I appreciate/respect that.

I DON’T respect how much you keep bringing it back up. You wrote it back in February. People read it. They commented. MOVE ON. Tons of people put work in on something they care about. Only a few of us care so much that we post about it. In all of my time on the internet in forums (here, XDA, reddit, Androidcentral, etc) YOU are the only one who keeps bringing your own post back up months down the line.

And hundreds of hours? Come on now. I started in this android game back before the nexus one. Even then, unless you were the one creating the mods/rom/kernel, it didn’t take hundreds of hours for one device. Unless you have problems. Nowadays, it’s so easy you’re pretty much going through a laundry list. You didn’t spend hundreds of hours “hacking” a device. You spent (hopefully) a couple hours following instructions someone painstakingly posted online for you.

I was bringing Nokia back to life :-)

In your mind. You didn’t bring Nokia back from the grave. You did nothing FOR Nokia. All you did was modify their existing device to something they don’t support. You didn’t even help anyone else here in the forums. It was for YOU and you alone. Don’t get delusional now. But I digress

My point is plain and simple. I (and no doubt others) aren’t complaining about your article. We’re complaining that you keep spamming it everywhere. You don’t see Verge writers doing that with their own articles do you? Wanna know why. BECAUSE THE POINT/ARGUMENT WAS MADE. It’s like you’re worried you can never write another article of that caliber again. (Let’s be honest, it shouldn’t be that hard). If you keep pulling up the past it becomes a lot harder to look forward. Think of something new. Hell, talk about something else you’ve done recently (related to Android, of course). Create another discussion.

You’ve posted it how many times over the last x weeks? The last comment was back in mid-March. People don’t have much else to say. Mission accomplished. It’s Done, Finito. Now please let it die.

Let me reiterate again. Please understand. Don’t assume it’s people hating on what you wrote about in your post. It’s not. It’s about what you’re doing RIGHT NOW. So please stop.

9 days ago on Am I the only one DYING for a Nokia-made Android device after seeing the Asha 501?

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I don’t think you guys are getting the point, though. Yes, iPad Google apps perform better IN WHAT THEY DO than the Nexus 7 alternatives. But they have less functionality. The same can be said for Android apps vs iOS apps in general. Take the same app specifically developed for each platform, and you’ll often see that they perform better on iOS, but allow for more basic functions on Android.

In terms of design, you guys just happen to be on the later part of the design cycle.
Gmail: iOS late 2012, Android late 2011
Maps: iOS late 2012, Android late 2011
Google Now: iOS early 2013, Android late 2012

Of those which looks the same? Just Google Now, the only app that was released on the same cycle for iOS and Android.I expect tomorrow to bring the Android and iOS app to parity, design wise.

Bottom line, how is this news? You guys have always had a better rendering engine. We have always had more features.

9 days ago on Confirmed: Google apps run better on the iPad Mini than the Nexus 7 5 recommends

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I would complain about it not having 4.2 either (if I cared about this phone at all), but I think my reasoning is different from what most people consider. What happens when Sony updates their software? Are they building for 4.2, or 4.3 that’s coming out soon?

With a device being released with the most recent software, it’s easier for them to make the jump to the next version. So let’s assume 4.3 is out. If Sony wants to adjust their modifications to fit 4.3, they also now have to adjust for the 4.2 changes as well, resulting in it taking longer to come out.

Bottom line, I see the most recent version as things they don’t have to deal with later. That is, of course, assuming they update at all (which is likely).

10 days ago on Sony shrinks the Xperia Z to 4.6 inches with new Xperia ZR

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I don’t think people would go mental at all. They would definitely question it, but in the long run they could update it themselves. The same cannot be said for Android thanks to manufacturer customizations.

10 days ago on Sony shrinks the Xperia Z to 4.6 inches with new Xperia ZR

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Dear lord just let your thread die. Seriously. Have you no shame?

13 days ago on Am I the only one DYING for a Nokia-made Android device after seeing the Asha 501? 2 replies 1 recommend

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I try to keep myself to once a year. In the past 4 years, however, I’ve had 7 phones. I went from HTC Touch Pro2 → Nexus One → Nexus S → HTC Sensation → Galaxy Nexus → Lumia 800 (for about a week when I lost my Galaxy Nexus → Galaxy Nexus (wanted it back so badly I bought a new one) →Nexus 4. I guess 6 if you ignore the Lumia.

I tend to get bored about halfway through my yearly cycle. With the Nexus devices they get updates about halfway through and that’s what keeps me. With the Nexus S, the reason I got rid of it was because it wasn’t updated until 4.0. It was significantly underpowered and the hardware wasn’t great (I was already iffy when first getting it) but without any updates past 2.3 (in the first year) there was NO reason to keep it over a Sensation or GS2, especially since I knew I would just be purchasing the next Nexus.

So yeah, once a year. I’ve come to realize that while I love new hardware (I’m an engineer/industrial designer double major), I love the software MUCH more. I think the once a year strategy shuold be implemented across all manufacturers. That way you’ll see much more support (since the number of devices decrease – not that I have to worry about it), and more people won’t feel buyers remorse since a replacement won’t appear 3 or 4 months after your phone just came out. Also once a year is easier on my wallet. I love hardware, but I’m not made of money. I buy everything unlocked (and sell the previous device), with my own working money so I do truly appreciate the costs of these things.

So once a year, because of money and the Nexus device schedule. That might change when I go graduate, however.

17 days ago on How often do you upgrade & why?

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Sure is a hell of a lot better than HTC’s list separation thing.

20 days ago on What do you REALLY hate about Android (ICS+)?

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Yeah, android file transfer is a pain in the a$$. It’s clunky enough that I just drag and drop things into my google drive folder (unless they’re larger than 50+mb).

I forgot how easy it was on Windows.

20 days ago on What do you REALLY hate about Android (ICS+)? 1 reply

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Speaking of default apps, two taps if you want to use an app once is too much. (Select app, click “Just Once”).

So you would prefer it to be the way it worked before 4.0 (or was it 4.1)?

They mitigated this slightly by allowing you to double tap the icon instead of having to tap two different places. I agree, though.

The way the camera seems like a totally separate entity. When I launch it, there’s this weird second where the UI shifts into landscape, like the launcher/lock screen, whatever.

This animation doesn’t occur on stock 4.2 at least. I don’t remember if that was the case for 4.1/4.0 as well.

20 days ago on What do you REALLY hate about Android (ICS+)?

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definitely Android fans will never criticise the S4.

The Galaxy S4 has a shitty materials, a childish looking UI and multiple gimmick features.
-Android Fan

Don’t assume the loudest fans represent all of them. I do the same when I visit Apple and MSFT threads.

22 days ago on I Feel Really Sad about Samsung

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Well Google Now does provide one notification for android, but I find it much more useful through the act of activating any time I know I’m doing something it supports. Of course, I started from the beginning so it’s a bit easier to keep track of all of it. And it’s quite a bit easier to access on Android.

Basically, give it time and force yourself to use it at first. It will learn and you will learn how to best use it.

Also, I don’t think I’d prefer it to constantly give me notifications for every new card that appears. It’s supposed to feed me information when I want it without me asking. Not when you don’t want it.

Just my opinion.

22 days ago on Google Now... 1 reply 2 recommends

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I think in most cases, people don’t mean it needs to look like Android (although I think they could take some hints for the better). I think they mean the way it works. Like multitasking, notifications, widgets to some degree, and things like setting defaults so, for example, you don’t have to run Apple maps and safari if you want to use google maps and chrome as your primaries.

I agree with you, apple doesn’t need to drastically change the UI. IMO It’s just little stuff. Remove the most of the skeuomorphism, and the (again IMO) god awful blue notification bar. That alone would be a big benefit, and Windows Phone, Android, and iOS would all still look vastly different. Well, unless Samsung decides to pull a 180 and copy Apple design again, but I doubt it now.

23 days ago on iOS rumors are a bunch of BullSh**.......

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I just want to say, I’m having a fun time trying to do that shitty run on sentence in one breath.

I will always own rMBP and own iDevices because nothing ever goes wrong with them for me anyways and i had android and windows and those were such a piece of shit and actually i spent more money on those devices because i always had to buy new PC’s and Android phones because they always crapped out.

Point or not, you sound 7 years old.

23 days ago on iOS rumors are a bunch of BullSh**....... 1 reply 2 recommends

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For Samsung phones, just replace the back cover. No need to lose warranty.

Yes it means you can’t sand the front for a more uniform feel, but it’s better than nothing.

23 days ago on On sub-optimal design and plasticky feel (and the fix)

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“Hi, my name is MTown, and I’m addicted to long posts”

Audience: “Hi MTown”

23 days ago on Nexus 4 vs HTC One 1 reply 2 recommends

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I’ll try to summarize the point I’ve come to accept through my history of rotating between HTC flagships and Nexus devices. In 2011, I had a Nexus S and quickly replaced it with an HTC Sensation, sold the Nexus. Installed CM 7 but was never happy. 2012, I had a Galaxy Nexus, tried a One S (I’m on t-mo), sold the One S. Happy for the Gnex’s lifetime. This year, I have a Nexus 4, have considered trying the HTC One, but I’ve learned something: HTC (and Samsung) will always come out with new hardware that has some sort of appeal. But after a while, you may appreciate the hardware (I know I do everyday) but the sticking point ALWAYS becomes the software.

In my case, I will never truly like Sense. In 2011 I had a thing for their flip-clock, but literally nothing else. In 2012 and this year, for me it’s the camera. One or two nice features. But the camera is only a small part of it. I don’t use my camera everyday. I DO use multitasking, quick access to google now, quicksettings, etc. everyday. Things that are much cleaner and more polished on stock android.

So yes, the build is great. Yes, it’s great that it has a nicer camera, front facing speakers, and a more durable shell. But for ME, a person who uses their smartphone for over 100 different purposes, the software is the much bigger deal. Some people will say “root and install a ROM”. I used to do that. I’ve been in the android game since the Nexus One. I know the process. It’d be easy enough for me, especially nowadays where it requires virtually no knowledge at all. But it was and will never be the same. Custom ROMs (again, IMO) will never give you that comfortable feeling for the long haul that built in software (that gets updated by itself) does. And I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to need to do that.

Of course, there are arguments for LTE, storage, etc. but again, I’m on Tmobile, so LTE isn’t an issue (and 42Mbps HSPA+ is just fine, I get around 10 down everyday on average). Storage isn’t an issue; I’m not storing movies on my phone since, you know, it’s a phone and for music/audio everything I have is in the cloud, save for my podcasts and commonly listened to songs. 16GB does just fine. It may not be the same for others.

TL:DR for me personally, decent (in my opinion above average) hardware and great up to date software (Nexus 4) will always be better than great hardware (but no doubt outdated as time goes on, such is tech) and outdated bad software (HTC One & GS4).

Finally look at it this way. If you choose the Nexus first and decide you don’t like it, you could still probably sell it for more than 200 used. If you buy the One and decide you don’t like it, you probably wouldn’t be able to sell it used for more than $400 or so. The difference in price between the two also means a difference in initial loss from use. Lower the cost, lower the loss.

23 days ago on Nexus 4 vs HTC One 1 reply 2 recommends