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iFixit pries open Google's Nexus 4, exposes somewhat stubborn battery (update: repairability verdict, LTE chip)
The warranty-voiders over at iFixit decided to spend their Friday evening tearing into a freshly delivered Nexus 4 and have given us a peek inside Google's smartphone darling. After removing a pair of screws and spending a few minutes prying off the rear cover, the teardown specialists found that the backplate's sparkling exterior isn't the only thing that makes it special. In addition to serving a cosmetic purpose, the hind side plate packs a handful of pressure contacts that power the handset's NFC antenna and connect its wireless charging induction coil. Extracting the battery required evicting additional screws and a fair amount of elbow grease to wrangle the 2100 mAh pack free from adhesive. As for the motherboard, its removal was a relatively easy process comprised of freeing it from a couple of connectors. The outfit's final verdict on the device's repairability isn't in just yet, but you can tap the source link below to gaze at the LG-made phone's innards. Update: iFixit has given Mountain View's smartphone a 7 out of 10 score in terms of repairability. The three point mark-down stems from a tricky battery removal experience and the glass front, which is fused to the display and its frame. Also, despite the lack of LTE support, a close look at the motherboard reveals a Qualcomm WTR1605L seven-band 4G LTE chip.
PSA: Nexus 4 now available from T-Mobile for $200 on a two-year service agreement
Google Play opened the Nexus 4 floodgates yesterday, but today it's T-Mobile's turn. America's fourth largest carrier is officially offering Google's latest purebred smartphone for $200 on its Value and Classic plans with a two-year service agreement. If contracts aren't really your thing and wasting money is, you can purchase the phone outright for $500, a $150 markup on Google's asking price. As it stands the first LG-made Nexus handset will be available at select T-Mobile retail locations, so if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Of course, you could always order online directly from the carrier, but considering yesterday's turn of events, we suggest that you move quickly.
D'oh: Google Voice force-closing text messages for Android 4.2 users
The growing pains associated with being an early adopter can sometimes be brutal, as Android's latest software bump doesn't appear to jibe too well with one of Google's most popular in-house apps. Prior to the Nexus 4's official release, word of a Google Voice texting bug began to circulate, but was written off as pre-release jitters. However, it appears that the issue is expanding beyond the search giant's newborn smartphone, as owners of the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus loaded with Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) are also experiencing crashes when attempting to compose a text message within Google Voice. While the app still works for phone calls, text messages are completely off limits. Hopefully, this issue can be fixed with an app update as opposed to a new Android software version altogether. In the meantime, if you're a heavy Google Voice user with Android 4.2 in your crosshairs, we suggest that you hold fire and wait until Google officially sorts things out.
PSA: Google Nexus 4, Nexus 10 for sale in US now! (update: Nexus 4 already sold out)
All three sizes of Google's hardware family are now available for purchase in both the US and Canada. Joining a 3G-flavored Nexus 7, the LG-made Nexus 4 starts at $299 for 8GB, Samsung's Nexus 10 rings in at $399 for 16GB. And what do you get for that kind of money? A whole lot; the new Nexus phone houses Android 4.2, Snapdragon S4 Pro and rich 4.7-inch 1,280 x 768 display. Meanwhile the ten-inch Nexus tablet packs the same fresh software, an incredible 2,560 x 1,600 resolution screen and a quad dual-core 1.7 GHz processor, so a whole lot of bang for several hundred of bucks. Hit up Google Play below and pick your screen and storage size. Update: And like that, it appears the 16GB both models of the Nexus 4 are sold out. Already.
Nexus 4 and 10 hit Australian Google Play store first, $20 Nexus 4 bumpers appear (update: Europe too)
While we wait for Google's latest to hit the virtual shelves in our neck of the woods, Australian buyers have already seen the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 go on sale, appearing around noon locally. AusDroid reports the 16GB Nexus 4 went out of stock in just 22 minutes, followed by the 8GB version and 32GB Nexus 10. additionally, Android Central reports that official bumpers for the Nexus 4 have appeared in the Google Play store. We didn't have problems with our review units but since the LG-built handset is rocking glass front and back they may be the difference between a close call and a sob story -- friends who've smashed an iPhone 4 (or more than one) likely have relevant tales to share. Readers have emailed saying Google Play customer service reps indicated new Nexus sales will start at noon ET here as well, but without official word we'd probably just keep an eye on our inbox / clicking that refresh key to be safe. Update: Sales appear to have gone live for customers in Europe, specifically UK and Spain, right about...now (3AM ET), those that can actually pull up the site at the moment may be able to get a purchase through. Update 2: Google has confirmed that UK stock of the Nexus 4 has already been exhausted just hours after going on sale. [Thanks, Jeffrey Powell]
Android 4.2 update for Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 adds lock screen widgets and multi-user support (benchmarks)
Google just pushed an OTA update to Android 4.2 for our Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 review units. As expected, the update adds lock screen widgets to both devices and multi-user support to the Nexus 10. We've reached out to Google and the company's confirmed that this is the build that will be shipping on its flagship phone and tablet tomorrow. We'll soon be putting this latest build of Jelly Bean through its paces, but in the meantime, take a look at our gallery of screenshots below. Update 1: Speaking of Android 4.2, check out this amazing collection of Photo Spheres. Update 2: You'll find benchmark results after the break -- we'll update with battery rundown numbers as time permits.
Distro Issue 65 arrives with the Jelly Bean-wielding Nexus 4 and Nexus 10
Like its Golden State neighbors, Google also had a gadget arsenal to unveil this fall. The folks in Mountain View trotted out the latest duo, the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10, without a huge press event a few days ago. In this week's issue of our tablet mag, we put these Android advocates through their paces to see if they live up to the Nexus moniker. We also offer in-depth musings on the WP8-packing Nokia 920 and visit Lockheed Martin to catch a glimpse of how that outfit is prepping for the future with the help of aging tech. Military-style rucksacks occupy Eyes-On, Visualized is all about cosmic self-portraits and M.C. Schmidt of Matmos handles the Q&A. Consult your link of choice to grab your copy and settle in for some end-of-the-week tech reading. Distro Issue 65 PDF Distro in the iTunes App Store Distro in the Google Play Store Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Editorial: Amazon and Google are undermining mobile pricing, and that may hurt everyone
When Google unveiled the Nexus 4, Nexus 10 and a refreshed Nexus 7 in October, the moment was arguably the crescendo of a change in the Android ecosystem that had been building ever since Amazon's Kindle Fire first braved the marketplace in 2011. Along with a widely expanded Amazon lineup that includes multiple Kindle Fire HD models and a price-cut tweak to the original Fire, two of the largest players in the mobile world now have top-to-bottom device businesses built around selling at break-even prices and recouping their money through content. That might sound good on the surface, but it's a bad omen for competitors that genuinely can't respond in kind -- and it could erode some of the values of diversity and innovation that we're supposed to hold dear as technology fans.
Nexus 4 review
Movie sequels often don't live up to the hype of the original blockbuster, but the same isn't always true of smartphones -- on the contrary, they typically get even better. The Nexus lineup, initially thought of as a "playground" for Android developers to test their apps on, has continually gotten better at its craft (and popularity). Not only that, it's picking up momentum: in less than five months, Google has crafted two Nexus tablets as well as its latest and greatest smartphone known as the Nexus 4, and the attractively priced devices are now facing more interest than they ever have before. The Nexus 4 is a veritable dreamboat when it comes to looks and specs. It's a smooth, elegant-looking device that comes with a large, 4.7-inch, HD display, a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and plenty of other appealing components. It exhibits a lot of commonalities to LG's current flagship, the Optimus G. And for a starting price of $299 unlocked, it's sure to attract a whole new demographic that until recently had never even heard of a Nexus. But is this a flagship smartphone that everyone will want to buy, or should the fourth-generation offering just be another target of developers' envy? Stay tuned past the break to find out.
T-Mobile says its Nexus 4 won't provide WiFi calling, makes a stronger case for going unlocked
T-Mobile has already made an odd pair of decisions around its approach to the Nexus 4, namely its choices to ask $200 on contract and $500 up-front for a smartphone that costs $349 unlocked. It might be time to add a third quirk to the list, if a forgivable (and not entirely surprising) one. The carrier has confirmed to TmoNews that it won't be offering WiFi calling through its edition of Google's flagship; if cost or coverage makes cellular voice a scarce resource, VoIP might be the only viable backup. We weren't assuming that T-Mobile would suddenly layer the Nexus 4 in custom features when the very point is to run an unspoiled Android 4.2, but the strategy leaves us even less of an incentive to submit to long-term commitments when a virtually identical, unfettered Google Play model beckons. November 13th is looking better every day.
O2 first UK carrier to confirm LG's Google Nexus 4
So, heard about that Google Nexus 4 thingy from LG? O2 is the first UK carrier to announce it'll be carrying this year's winner of the "most-leaked Android phone" award, which was mercifully launched on Monday. So far, we've found the "phenomenal" quad-core, 4.7-inch, 1280 x 768 handset with virgin Jelly Bean 4.2 to be "better than the sum of its parts," and Google will be selling the phone sim-free for an enticing £239 at the Play store. That means you'll likely find the device free under contract, but your carrier choices may be limited to start, as O2's rumored to have a 30-day exclusive. There's no mention of price or availability, but Google's own sale date of November 13th seems a good bet.
Nexus 4 boasts SlimPort support for tethered display sharing
A lot of the hubbub yesterday was around the Nexus 4's support of Miracast, courtesy of Android 4.2. If you don't want to spring for a dedicated TV box or invest in a whole new set of gadgets to supersize your mobile experience, then you may be excited to hear that the handset also supports SlimPort. We haven't heard much from the DisplayPort-based standard since January, but we're happy to report it finally appears to be ready for primetime. Analogix, the company behind the tech, already has its first adapter up for sale on Amazon (at the more coverage link), which takes the Nexus 4's micro-USB port and allows you to connect an HDMI cable to it -- so long as that proposition is worth $30 to you. Eventually DVI, VGA and DisplayPort will also be added to list of output options, potentially making the this handset's charging port the most versatile micro-USB jack in the smartphone market. For more, check out the PR after the break.
Google Nexus 4 hands-on (video)
So here it is at last, the Nexus 4. After countless leaks we finally got a chance to put our dirty little paws on Google and LG's lovechild. The verdict? It's simply phenomenal. By combining the nicest elements of the Optimus G with the latest iteration of Jelly Bean (Android 4.2) the two companies have created something that's better than the sum of its parts. Like its cousin, the Nexus 4 is built around Qualcomm's speedy 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro SoC with Adreno 320 graphics and 2GB of RAM. Storage comes in 8GB and 16GB flavors with no microSD expansion. It features the same lovely 4.7-inch 1280x768-pixel non-PenTile IPS display but sheds LTE support for an unlocked pentaband DC-HSPA+ (42Mbps) radio and wireless charging. On the camera front the Nexus 4 inherits the Optimus G's optional eight-megapixel BSI sensor and f/2.4 autofocus lens, instead of the fancier 13 MP shooter. WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, NFC and Miracast round up the spec sheet, and a sealed 2100mAh Li-polymer battery completes the package. Aesthetically, the Nexus 4 blends aspects of the Optimus G and Galaxy Nexus designs, with a glass-covered back and rounded-off top and bottom edges. This phone looks and feels great -- materials and build quality are much improved over last year's handset. At 9.1mm (0.36 inches) thin and 131g (0.31 pounds), it's also very comfortable in hand. Most of the controls are unchanged from its cousin -- you'll find a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and secondary mic on top, a volume rocker and micro-SIM tray on the left, a micro-USB port and primary mic on the bottom, and a power / lock button on the right side. The Optimus G's capacitive keys give way to on-screen buttons and the RGB notification light moves below the screen (from its former position near the 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera). Overall we're really impressed with the Nexus 4, and that's just from playing with the hardware. Sadly, we spent very little time exploring the software, which includes a plethora of improvements, so keep an eye out for the details in our full review. You'll be able to purchase the Nexus 4 unlocked in the Play Store starting November 13th for $299 (8GB), $349 (16GB) or $199 with a two-year contract on T-Moble (16GB). Until then, check out the gallery below, then hit the break for our hands-on video. Brad Molen contributed to this report.
Google's refreshed Nexus 7 on sale now, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 sign-up pages go live
Remember the 8GB Nexus 7? So long, old friend. The 16GB Nexus 7 has now taken center stage in Google's Play Store, with $199 netting you a slate that's currently boasting a "now shipping" status. Those willing to fork out $249 can get a 32GB model (also listed as "In Stock"), while $299 provides access to a GSM-enabled 32GB model that'll hop onto cellular networks -- unfortunately, that one's listed as "coming soon." Those hoping to keep themselves informed about the incoming Nexus 4 smartphone and Nexus 10 tablet can visit the source link in order to register for email updates, with shipments expected to begin in many nations on November 13th.
T-Mobile unveils holiday lineup: Nexus 4, HTC 8X, Lumia 810 to land November 14th
T-Mobile was set to have its own splashy product unveiling today in New York City, but a certain Sandy put the kibosh on that. Now that Google's let its trio of updated Nexus products out of the bag, Magenta's ready to give us pricing and availability for the Nexus 4, HTC 8X and Lumia 810 which are set to hit the carrier's shelves this November 14th. Both Google's and Microsoft's (signature) flagships will be available for $199 on a two-year plan, while Nokia's lower-end WP8 handset will go for $149 with the same contract duration. Also, joining the crowded launch lineup that day is Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 for $349 with a two-year agreement. As for the newly HSPA+ capable Nexus 7, well, you'll be able to snag that refreshed slate on Google Play just one day later. Of course, T-Mo hasn't forgotten about its value-minded sub base, offering up LG's Optimus L9 on the 31st of this month at an affordable $79 on contract. So if it's options you wanted this holiday season, Magenta's doling them out in spades. Hit up the break for the official PR.
Android 4.2's Photo Sphere camera takes on iPhone's panorama mode
Android 4.2 is teeming with new features and system improvements, but you can bet that Photo Sphere will be the one that's talked about most amongst consumers. While Android phones on the whole have had panoramic modes for years, Apple's iOS 6 update added even more fuel to that fire. Now, Google's taking things to an entirely new level. With Android 4.2, users can snap pictures in every direction, and the system does the stitching. What you're left with are photos that can be navigated, taking viewers "inside of the scene." Photo Spheres are stored as JPEG files, and all of the information required to view them is embedded as open XML metadata in the image itself. You'll be able to peek 'em on your phone or share them easily through Google+, and perhaps best of all, publish them to Google Maps for the world to see. Head on past the break to see what you've got to look forward to.
Nexus 4 leaked on video, Android 4.2 gets exposed alongside new LG hardware
There ain't much here we haven't seen before, but look -- it's a video. The thoroughly leaked LG Nexus 4 -- which was likely scheduled to be formally unveiled today if not for Hurricane Sandy -- has shown up in a 107 second video hosted up by Swedroid. We're guessing that select international sites briefed on the handset weren't hearing any of that "delay" stuff, and have instead let loose on the material they had access to. The hardware itself is no surprise, boasting clean lines and a minimalistic motif that looks a hair thicker than we had envisioned before. Android 4.2 looks right at home, though -- as if you haven't seen enough of that in the Nexus 10 leak. Head on past the break and press play, won't you?
Nexus 4 priced at £390 by purported Carphone Warehouse in-store display placard
Oh, Carphone Warehouse -- it just can't seem to keep what it knows about the LG / Google Nexus 4 under lock and key. Just days after briefly listing the phone on its website, purported in-store displays for the yet unannounced device have leaked out to Android Authority. While essentially of the details are the same as what we saw last (1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 SoC, 8MP cam, 12-hour talk time rating, etc.), the listing reveals that the "sim-free" phone itself will sell for £390 (about $504) -- previously we'd only seen the per-month pricing at £31, which is also found here. There's no mention of that October 30th sale date this time, and it would seem unlikely now given that Google's had to indefinitely postpone its NYC-based Android event for the 29th due to hurricane Sandy. For now, you can get more details from the source link below.
Google postpones October 29th event over Hurricane Sandy worries
We hope you weren't basing your calendar around Google's big Android event on October 29th. The company has confirmed to us that it's postponing the event to an as yet undetermined point in the future due to Hurricane Sandy, whose East coast arrival will follow so closely before the New York City gathering that Google isn't willing to take the chance on its big day. If you're experiencing a sense of déja vu, you're not alone -- Google delayed last year's event revealing the Galaxy Nexus out of respect for the late Steve Jobs. While it's not what we'd call an auspicious start to Google's holiday launches, we can at least hope for an abundance of riches when the company is ready once again. The full statement waits below. "We are canceling our Monday morning event in New York due to Hurricane Sandy. We will let you know our plans as soon as we know more."
LG E960 support manuals confirm Nexus 4 name, 8GB and 16GB configurations
The information leaks ahead Google's Android event next week continue to flow, with the latest thanks to support manuals on LG's Australian and UK websites. While we're already familiar with the phone's hardware thanks to a detailed Belarusian review, the manuals confirm it is going to be called the Nexus 4, and that along with the 8GB version we've seen there will definitely be a 16GB edition available. As you can see above, it also includes an induction coil for wireless charging and excludes any microSD slots for additional storage. This all comes after two separate Nexus 10 leaks earlier today, as well as a report by Wired of a lost Nexus 4 recovered in a San Francisco bar (sound familiar?) last month. Hit the source link below to check out the LG E960 PDF for yourself (you may need to select the "show all" radio button), although there's only a few diagrams and support info waiting within. [Thanks, Tim aka Zurginator]
