Related
Howard Forums review
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1742376-My-Galaxy-Nexus-Review?p=14622588#post14622588
God I haven't been there in years! Great Review btw.
Super Glad the screen displays normal whites compared to the junk Samsung has been putting out lately. Just look at the difference between the SGSII and the Galaxy Nexus. I couldn't deal with that nasty hue all day every day. This is what turned me off from the Nexus S.
"The only USB modes in ICS are MTP and PTP modes. There is no mass storage mode. MTP lets you both read and copy files. MTP’s advantage over mass storage mode is that a) you no longer have to pull the notification area down and select mass storage mode and b) you can still view the contents of the card on the device while it is still connected to your computer. The disadvantage is that mass storage allows you to copy and read multiple files simultaneously."
mmm... :/
Screen close-up definitely shows it's sharper than GS2 and no sign of pixels.
So much for the "oh it's pentile" argument.
ptscon said:
Screen close-up definitely shows it's sharper than GS2 and no sign of pixels.
So much for the "oh it's pentile" argument.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I was expecting it to not be noticable but nice to have proof to back that up now.
I still find it kind of funny that many reviewers have no idea about some major Android features. In this case it was when he mentioned in the video about there not being any Facebook or Twitter options available in the Accounts settings. Have people really no idea that it's something developers of the apps add via an API? The fact that neither the Twitter or the Facebook app was included should've been a good enough clue. Well, nobody is perfect.
blunden said:
Agreed. I was expecting it to not be noticable but nice to have proof to back that up now.
I still find it kind of funny that many reviewers have no idea about some major Android features. In this case it was when he mentioned in the video about there not being any Facebook or Twitter options available in the Accounts settings. Have people really no idea that it's something developers of the apps add via an API? The fact that neither the Twitter or the Facebook app was included should've been a good enough clue. Well, nobody is perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That, or "What’s different now is that you can also add folders. I guess it’s only fair: Apple stole the Android notification area so Google stole the folders."
Android has had folders for ages now... they just revamped how you create them. Yes it's like iOS now, but that's good. Easier is better.
did he say 8MP camera?
yes he did. seems like this review isn't really a good review...
Pictures speak louder then words. Most important thing I got from the review is the +1 on the screen and -1 on the lack of Facebook integration... which sucks. I like being able to snap a shot and post it to facebook. Sure Google+ kinda competes with Facebook but just make Google+ a default, not remove Facebook completely.
I guess this also removes Facebook contacts from the phone (which I think they did that on previous builds). I figured it would only be a matter of time. Even more reason for CM9.
player911 said:
Pictures speak louder then words. Most important thing I got from the review is the +1 on the screen and -1 on the lack of Facebook integration... which sucks. I like being able to snap a shot and post it to facebook. Sure Google+ kinda competes with Facebook but just make Google+ a default, not remove Facebook completely.
I guess this also removes Facebook contacts from the phone (which I think they did that on previous builds). I figured it would only be a matter of time. Even more reason for CM9.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surely this will come simply by installing the facebook app?
Anyone else notice he said the battery life sucked?
i also noticed he kinda didn't know what he was talking about
player911 said:
Pictures speak louder then words. Most important thing I got from the review is the +1 on the screen and -1 on the lack of Facebook integration... which sucks. I like being able to snap a shot and post it to facebook. Sure Google+ kinda competes with Facebook but just make Google+ a default, not remove Facebook completely.
I guess this also removes Facebook contacts from the phone (which I think they did that on previous builds). I figured it would only be a matter of time. Even more reason for CM9.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't that become an option when you install the Facebook App? I don't remember Facebook just "being there" on anything other than Sense/Blur/Touchwiz...
oscillik said:
i also noticed he kinda didn't know what he was talking about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah, well that's what you get for a review from a group that isn't hardcore Android focused.
I think maybe the only important takeaway that I got from that review was the close-up screen comparison with the Galaxy S2. Rather allays my concerns over Pentile-Gate 2011.
Oh, and also confirmation of pentaband support for both AWS and standard frequencies.
divinewisdom said:
did he say 8MP camera?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He did say 8MP, however he wrote this:
"Curiously the Nexus only comes with a 5mp camera while all it’s competitors now come with 8mp ones"
nomisunrider said:
He wrote this:
"Curiously the Nexus only comes with a 5mp camera while all it’s competitors now come with 8mp ones"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you watched the video you'd hear that he says it has an 8mp camera...
HideYoKids said:
Anyone else notice he said the battery life sucked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He also said he had the Phone just for a few hours and the Battery usage showed 63% Display usage. Guess this is just the "it's new" effect where people play around with it for hours - then every phones battery will go down pretty quick. Some other Review reported a good battery life and the processor in the Galaxy Nexus usually known for a good power management.
s.m.knipe said:
Doesn't that become an option when you install the Facebook App? I don't remember Facebook just "being there" on anything other than Sense/Blur/Touchwiz...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup it's added by the app through an api(both the account in settings and the option to share), indeed this guy isn't too educated on this specific part of android But a good review in my opinion.
MysteriousDiary said:
He also said he had the Phone just for a few hours and the Battery usage showed 63% Display usage. Guess this is just the "it's new" effect where people play around with it for hours - then every phones battery will go down pretty quick. Some other Review reported a good battery life and the processor in the Galaxy Nexus usually known for a good power management.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
or since the guy doesn't seem to have a clue, it could very well be down to him not charging the phone fully, and just whacking in the battery and turning it on as soon as he opened the box.
oscillik said:
or since the guy doesn't seem to have a clue, it could very well be down to him not charging the phone fully, and just whacking in the battery and turning it on as soon as he opened the box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I'm pretty sure he did. Especially looking at the battery usage graph, which I attached here.
If you start at ~70%, probably not gonna get stellar life.
Has anyone found a good camera for the nexus? I can't seem to get the stock one to give me a good crisp picture.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Vignette.
If you don't it, you wont like any camera app.
djgdroid said:
Has anyone found a good camera for the nexus? I can't seem to get the stock one to give me a good crisp picture.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you tapping the screen on the focus point you want? if you dont, it wont focus on that target.
stock app is fine. you just need some practice on how to take pictures.
Yes i've found one - it's Nikon D3100. Now i'll try seriously. Google has damn good coders and if it was posible to simply write better camera app they've had it done already. No offence for other developers.
If camera is very important for you shall get some other phone with better camera, it isn't hard to find one. Or buy a proper DSLR camera (yes, i'd be fruity happy if they were as compact as mibile phones).
MS. said:
Yes i've found one - it's Nikon D3100. Now i'll try seriously. Google has damn good coders and if it was posible to simply write better camera app they've had it done already. No offence for other developers.
If camera is very important for you shall get some other phone with better camera, it isn't hard to find one. Or buy a proper DSLR camera (yes, i'd be fruity happy if they were as compact as mibile phones).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
idk about that; google can't even get gmail contact images to be above 96x96, despite us asking them since 2009.
google wouldn't have done anything with this camera, samsung would have. the camera hardware on the nexus just isn't good compared to the competition, as you alluded to
MS. said:
Yes i've found one - it's Nikon D3100. Now i'll try seriously. Google has damn good coders and if it was posible to simply write better camera app they've had it done already. No offence for other developers.
If camera is very important for you shall get some other phone with better camera, it isn't hard to find one. Or buy a proper DSLR camera (yes, i'd be fruity happy if they were as compact as mibile phones).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could hit the middle ground and get a Micro 4/3 camera. That's my choice.
But really, the GNex doesn't take awful photos. Compose properly and take 2sec and you'll get a good enough photo for things you're taking pictures of with a phone (posting to Facebook, G+, Twitter, etc.).
jayochs said:
idk about that; google can't even get gmail contact images to be above 96x96, despite us asking them since 2009.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sometimes it takes a lot of effort and time to convince a developer to add a simple button on a web site and once it's done, then everyone wonders how could they live without it so long. There's loooooong story behind this from my own experience
jayochs said:
google wouldn't have done anything with this camera, samsung would have. the camera hardware on the nexus just isn't good compared to the competition, as you alluded to
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that GNex has bad camera. It's just not as good as some others. And those people who actually need a good camera on their smartphones, usually going trough few reviews before buying it.
Martonikaj> absolutely agree with you, but i'm not one of those who complaining about GNex camera. I saw sample pictures/videos before i bought this phone and even more to that - take a look at my signature (the last three owned phones)
From my experience with this camera so far.
1) If you have a good light source, your fine.
2) For indoor shots, they work best when the light source is coming from behind you. Cuts down the pixelation.
3) Tap the screen at the focus point you want.
4) For night shots, I find they work best when you disable the flash. Don't use night scene mode, never had much luck with that.
Outdoor this camera can take some great shots, but indoors you have to handle it a certain way.
I was pretty sure when I decided on the nexus that the camera was going to be the weak spot. I just loved that it was pure Android. I've tried camera fx and have noticed a slightly better quality picture but I'm just not loving the interface. I was hoping someone had tried a camera app that I hadn't and liked it. I really liked the camera on my old HTC incredible but that was the only thing better than my nexus.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
So a while back I was using the HTC One S. I got it for the camera. I prefer samsung, for the most part, and have gone from a vibrant to galaxy s 4g to galaxy s 2. The only reason I did not go to the galaxy s 3 originally was because I needed a better camera. I wound up having to sell my HTC One s for some cash, and now I have the change to get a phone again, I am stuck, once again, between the one s and the s3. Personally, I would like to wait for the note 2, but I don't have the time. I am stuck with a basic flip phone right now, and while i don't mind using a flip phone, I have to have something for tethering with my tablet while I am work. So that is the rock and a hard place. Any phone I buy is going to be a few hundred bucks anyways, so I would rather go another hundred or two more and get the one s or s3.
Personally, the One S was great with the Axiom ROM. The battery lasted forever, and it had great extra features.
However, the s3 is still my preferred choice because of the bigger screen, the 720p, svoice, voice actions, and many other things. Not to mention the extra compatibility with my note 10.1 tablet.
My only real issue here, admidst all my rambling, is the camera. I know the HTC One S has an f/2.0 aperture, and the s3 has a f/2..6 aperture which makes a difference (although some people report the aperture as f/2.4)...my concern is how people actually like the photos and video. Ive noticed some washed out looks compared to the one s. I know the f/2.6 will give better depth vs the f/2.0, but thats about the end of the benefits.
My main concern is quality of photos/videos, and quickness of the picture. I have two young boys and I want to be able to snap a photo that is clear and of good quality, at a moments notice without having to worry about missing it or getting a blurry shot.
Any comments or thoughts on this would be helpful.
Ohai search button
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1809547
If the cam is your main concern, I think you will be happy either way. There may be a difference side by side but if you're not ccomparing the two like that you probably wouldn't care either way.
While some may have had issues with the camera I would say the vast majority have not.
There are a number of things that could cause pic problems here. Lots of people are running jb leaked firmware. Lots are using the cam from the note2. I seem to remember a few had problems fixed by updating the cam firmware...
But like I said, I doubt you'd be dissatisfied with the gs3. I dont know how theyd compare side by side but unless you're doing just that I dont think you'd notice or care.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
psykhotic said:
Ohai search button
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1809547
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive seen plenty of camera shot examples, but pretty much all (most, but not all) are from still photos are "posed" shots. It takes good pictures, and I think my only issue is its a little washed out vs the One S. However, I can deal with that. My biggest question is lag from button press to picture taken.
So, how much lag is there in taking a picture? If I wanted to take a picture right when somewhat hit the water diving off a diving board, or of my cat jumping from fence pole to fence pole and wanted a shot right in the middle between two poles, etc....how easy would it be? With the One S I could get pretty much zero lag. if I hit the capture button its taken the picture right then, and I can click the capture button over and over and over in rapid succession (not burst mode) and take multiple pictures. I really want the GS3 over the One S for other reasons, but need the camera to be on the same level.
So how quick does it take a picture when the button is pressed?...and how quickly does it recover to take another picture?
I find it to be quite quick on all accounts. Hasn't caused me any issues as of yet. Also, there is a feature where you can just record video and then capture the pics you want from the video.
Have you seen the commercial with the hikers and the goat?
The only complaint I have about the camera is the lack of hardware buttons for it. But I can deal with that.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
I can get the no texting and driving sign while typing this.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
DocHoliday77 said:
I find it to be quite quick on all accounts. Hasn't caused me any issues as of yet. Also, there is a feature where you can just record video and then capture the pics you want from the video.
Have you seen the commercial with the hikers and the goat?
The only complaint I have about the camera is the lack of hardware buttons for it. But I can deal with that.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback.
Its rather important to be quick on the camera trigger. Even with the zero lag of the One S I did miss some things. I have my two boys and they can be making a face or doing a little dance to their favorite tv show and I want to capture it, but the moment may just last a few seconds, and I need a quick trigger finger. So I dont want to have to focus and then 'click'. I want to hit and click at the same time.
Right now, however, I am stuck my an LG Mytouch Q and definitely not the best in the camera department. lol
Yeah I hear you on wanting to be able to get that quick shot. Its the msin reason I miss the csm button. But theres also a motion setting where you tap and hold on lock screen whil rotating to landscape takes you straight to the camera. I just added to my lockscreen shortcuts. Auto focus is pretty good too btw.
Dont forget you can always get the S3 and try it for 14 days. If it doesn't meet your needs return it and get the One S.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
DocHoliday77 said:
Yeah I hear you on wanting to be able to get that quick shot. Its the msin reason I miss the csm button. But theres also a motion setting where you tap and hold on lock screen whil rotating to landscape takes you straight to the camera. I just added to my lockscreen shortcuts. Auto focus is pretty good too btw.
Dont forget you can always get the S3 and try it for 14 days. If it doesn't meet your needs return it and get the One S.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats where my problem lies. I work for T-Mobile. Mind you everything I do here is personal and not affiliated with my tmobile employment, but I work for them, and I know just about everything there is to know about the phones, but because I have not had a chance to really test shutter lag on the phone, I dont know if it meets my needs. I am VERY picky. I don't work in a retail store or anything so I dont deal with the phones in my hand daily.
...and because I work for the company, I do not get a buyers remorse period on my purchases. Once I order it, give or take a couple of exceptions to the rule, its mine. So while I can tell you about every wifi share options, every motion and voice control, and so on, I dont know for sure if the camera lag will be a problem in practical use because I do not have the phone physically with me. ..and when I did have the phone physically with me...I never tested it cause I either had my one s or was not in the mindset of having to buy a phone lol. I will probably get a chance to check out a demo model tomorrow when I head in to work, but I was trying to get it ordered over the weekend, so it would start processing my order. Our order system is different and the sooner the better.
Galaxy S3
phoenixbennu said:
So a while back I was using the HTC One S. I got it for the camera. I prefer samsung, for the most part, and have gone from a vibrant to galaxy s 4g to galaxy s 2. The only reason I did not go to the galaxy s 3 originally was because I needed a better camera. I wound up having to sell my HTC One s for some cash, and now I have the change to get a phone again, I am stuck, once again, between the one s and the s3. Personally, I would like to wait for the note 2, but I don't have the time. I am stuck with a basic flip phone right now, and while i don't mind using a flip phone, I have to have something for tethering with my tablet while I am work. So that is the rock and a hard place. Any phone I buy is going to be a few hundred bucks anyways, so I would rather go another hundred or two more and get the one s or s3.
Personally, the One S was great with the Axiom ROM. The battery lasted forever, and it had great extra features.
However, the s3 is still my preferred choice because of the bigger screen, the 720p, svoice, voice actions, and many other things. Not to mention the extra compatibility with my note 10.1 tablet.
My only real issue here, admidst all my rambling, is the camera. I know the HTC One S has an f/2.0 aperture, and the s3 has a f/2..6 aperture which makes a difference (although some people report the aperture as f/2.4)...my concern is how people actually like the photos and video. Ive noticed some washed out looks compared to the one s. I know the f/2.6 will give better depth vs the f/2.0, but thats about the end of the benefits.
My main concern is quality of photos/videos, and quickness of the picture. I have two young boys and I want to be able to snap a photo that is clear and of good quality, at a moments notice without having to worry about missing it or getting a blurry shot.
Any comments or thoughts on this would be helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMHO the Galaxy S3 takes the best pics I have ever taken with a phone. See for yourself. I am attaching two pics of a sunset/day-time at Vanderbilt Beach, Florida. Rarely have I been disappointed with the quality of the pics. At least for me, they almost always turn out perfect. I highly recommend the Galaxy S3. Even in low-light situations, you still get a great pic.
Well 1) it's a camera phone and 2) ymmv. There isn't more "lag" than a cheap point and shoot but this isn't a dslr, it's a phone. It's going to come down to to you and each unique situation.
Hi,
I have a new Z2 Play and the camera's not great. I'm traveling this weekend and need a good camera. Would the Hasselblad mod be an improvement? I see both the phone and the mod have a 12-mp camera but am not techie enough to understand any other differences in specs between the two. I get 25% off at Verizon, which would bring the price down a bit, and I guess I have 14 days to return, but don't want to go through (or put the store through) all that if it's not an improvement over the Z2 Play camera.
My other option is to take an old, inactive Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus to use as a camera; it had some water damage but I don't think it affected the camera? Unfortunately I just traded in/sold all 3 iPhones
TIA!
(Also xposting to the mods section)
I think you should get it (I want one too!)
Yes, despite the same 12 megapixel rating it will be a noticeable improvement over the built-in camera. Not only does the Hasselblad mod have a real 10x optical zoom, but it offers selectable modes tailored for sport, portrait, etc. that can minimize blurring and optimize lighting and contrast for scenes. It uses its own imaging hardware so it is not dependent on any of the phone's built-in imaging hardware or software. In addition to saving pictures as JPG files, it also captures images in RAW format, so if you really want to tweak the pictures later you will have uncompressed RAW mode files (though file sizes will be several times larger). In addition to all of that great stuff, I *think* it has optical image stabilization, though reviews on the web claim both that it does and that it doesn't. I haven't been able to confirm if it really has OIS or not.
Unfortunately I don't yet have one myself but have been seriously considering buying one and have done lots of research. My opinion is you should get it if you can afford the $250 USD price, especially considering your comment about getting it at a discounted price. I paid over $200 for my point-and-click Samsung camera, and while it has a 21x zoom and 16mpix sensor I would prefer to have my phone be the center of my imaging solution rather than carry around another device. Sure, I would be doing that with the Hasselblad mod as well but I wouldn't have to worry about moving the pictures off my camera later and they would automatically be uploaded to Google Photos. The convenience and added features would make it worth it.
The only downside (beyond price) I see is that it's useless unless it's connected to a some type of Moto Z phone. However, if you're comfortable with that (it's the same for any Moto Mod) then it probably isn't a concern.
Good luck, and if you do buy it please post an update for those of us who are on the fence need an excuse to buy it!
---------- Post added at 10:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 PM ----------
I forgot to ask; how do you get a 25% discount from Verizon? I would buy it right now if I could get it at that price.
danicrit said:
Hi,
I have a new Z2 Play and the camera's not great. I'm traveling this weekend and need a good camera. Would the Hasselblad mod be an improvement? I see both the phone and the mod have a 12-mp camera but am not techie enough to understand any other differences in specs between the two. I get 25% off at Verizon, which would bring the price down a bit, and I guess I have 14 days to return, but don't want to go through (or put the store through) all that if it's not an improvement over the Z2 Play camera.
My other option is to take an old, inactive Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus to use as a camera; it had some water damage but I don't think it affected the camera? Unfortunately I just traded in/sold all 3 iPhones
TIA!
(Also xposting to the mods section)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tropho said:
Yes, despite the same 12 megapixel rating it will be a noticeable improvement over the built-in camera. Not only does the Hasselblad mod have a real 10x optical zoom, but it offers selectable modes tailored for sport, portrait, etc. that can minimize blurring and optimize lighting and contrast for scenes. It uses its own imaging hardware so it is not dependent on any of the phone's built-in imaging hardware or software. In addition to saving pictures as JPG files, it also captures images in RAW format, so if you really want to tweak the pictures later you will have uncompressed RAW mode files (though file sizes will be several times larger). In addition to all of that great stuff, I *think* it has optical image stabilization, though reviews on the web claim both that it does and that it doesn't. I haven't been able to confirm if it really has OIS or not.
Unfortunately I don't yet have one myself but have been seriously considering buying one and have done lots of research. My opinion is you should get it if you can afford the $250 USD price, especially considering your comment about getting it at a discounted price. I paid over $200 for my point-and-click Samsung camera, and while it has a 21x zoom and 16mpix sensor I would prefer to have my phone be the center of my imaging solution rather than carry around another device. Sure, I would be doing that with the Hasselblad mod as well but I wouldn't have to worry about moving the pictures off my camera later and they would automatically be uploaded to Google Photos. The convenience and added features would make it worth it.
The only downside (beyond price) I see is that it's useless unless it's connected to a some type of Moto Z phone. However, if you're comfortable with that (it's the same for any Moto Mod) then it probably isn't a concern.
Good luck, and if you do buy it please post an update for those of us who are on the fence need an excuse to buy it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much!!! Yes, I noticed the same thing you did about some reviews saying OIS and others not, which really frustrated me. However, the official Moto site says (under "Full Specifications"):
image stabilization
Still: OIS
Video: EIS
--but like I said, I'm not techie enough to really know how much of a difference that makes.
I had the Moto Z a few weeks ago and got a like-new Hasselblad (supposedly only used a couple times) for $100 on Facebook Marketplace. I only took 2 pics with it though, and one was just when I needed the zoom -- an hour after I bought it (which was almost a 3-hour roundtrip in DC Friday rush hour traffic), I was looking across a busy highway trying to figure out how to get a close-up pic of a faraway sign I wanted to show my kids--then I remembered, duh, I just bought this camera with zoom and that's why I drove all the way out here in the first place! The pic was great as far as the zoom went, I didn't pay attention to anything else. I ended up selling it on Craigslist for $100 when I returned the Z a few days later (due to its' poor battery life). When I got the Z2 Play, the guy I sold it to said I could buy it back if I regretted selling it, but he was happy with it and I didn't want to do that to him (plus I would've had to do another long drive).
For some reason I wasn't sure if the quality of the phone/camera makes a difference--the Z had a better processor and camera than the Z2 Play does, so I wasn't sure if that would impact the quality of pics taken with the mod.
I've seen the mod on Facebook marketplace/Craigslist but am out of time to get it that way now, plus a return will be easier at Verizon. Thanks for your help--I'll bite the bullet and rack up more credit card debt at Verizon tomorrow! It's down to $250 there and I get a 25% discount so I guess that's around $187 before taxes.... ouch. I'll play around with it on my trip this weekend and then decide if it's worth keeping
I forgot to ask; how do you get a 25% discount from Verizon? I would buy it right now if I could get it at that price.
Apparently my husband's company/employer is one of the companies that qualifies for 18% off service (doesn't apply to unlimited plans) and 25% off accessories. If your employer qualifies, you can enroll online or (faster) in a store with a paystub (like I did--but they still messed up and I had to go through a lot to redo it). Third-party retailers vary in the extent to which they'll honor the discount, if at all. Corporate stores will honor it, as will Verizon online and by phone. It's down to $250 on the Verizon website right now, so I hope it's the same in stores since I'm probably out of time to order online for in-store pickup (leaving town Friday--well, I guess I maybe I could try for in-store pickup in the town where I'm going, LOL). When I bought the Z a few weeks ago, the 3rd-party store offered 50% off the mods if you bought them with the phone. I don't think they carried the camera mod though (?); I don't think any 3rd party stores do. I had some other options including a Groupon for a third-party Verizon store that could probably special order it for me, but again, I wouldn't have it in time for this trip. Though I guess I could always return the one I buy tomorrow, after my trip, and get it somewhere else cheaper.
That is great info, thank you. I currently get the military discount, which provides 25% discount on select accessories and unfortunately the Hasselblad mod is not eligible. I double checked via a chat session with a Verizon rep and they confirmed it is not eligible. Oh well, I will eagerly await your follow up report on whether I should just close my eyes and click "submit order"
Since I can't get your awesome discount, I checked elsewhere and see it's listed on Amazon for $239.99, $10 less than Verizon. I wonder if there's an unused Amazon gift card hiding between my couch cushions...
danicrit said:
I forgot to ask; how do you get a 25% discount from Verizon? I would buy it right now if I could get it at that price.
Apparently my husband's company/employer is one of the companies that qualifies for 18% off service (doesn't apply to unlimited plans) and 25% off accessories. If your employer qualifies, you can enroll online or (faster) in a store with a paystub (like I did--but they still messed up and I had to go through a lot to redo it). Third-party retailers vary in the extent to which they'll honor the discount, if at all. Corporate stores will honor it, as will Verizon online and by phone. It's down to $250 on the Verizon website right now, so I hope it's the same in stores since I'm probably out of time to order online for in-store pickup (leaving town Friday--well, I guess I maybe I could try for in-store pickup in the town where I'm going, LOL). When I bought the Z a few weeks ago, the 3rd-party store offered 50% off the mods if you bought them with the phone. I don't think they carried the camera mod though (?); I don't think any 3rd party stores do. I had some other options including a Groupon for a third-party Verizon store that could probably special order it for me, but again, I wouldn't have it in time for this trip. Though I guess I could always return the one I buy tomorrow, after my trip, and get it somewhere else cheaper.
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It uses its own imaging hardware so it is not dependent on any of the phone's built-in imaging hardware or software.
This is something I was confused/concerned about--I know the mod took a couple decent pics with the Z, but that phone had better specs and processor (Snapdragon 820 vs 626) than the Z2 Play, and I wasn't sure how much of a difference that makes when using the mod--in other words, I was worried pics taken with the mod on better/higher-end phones might be better than those taken with the mod on midrange/budget phones. It sounds like that's not the case. Thanks for clearing that up!
That is great info, thank you. I currently get the military discount, which provides 25% discount on select accessories and unfortunately the Hasselblad mod is not eligible. I double checked via a chat session with a Verizon rep and they confirmed it is not eligible. Oh well, I will eagerly await your follow up report on whether I should just close my eyes and click "submit order"
Since I can't get your awesome discount, I checked elsewhere and see it's listed on Amazon for $239.99, $10 less than Verizon. I wonder if there's an unused Amazon gift card hiding between my couch cushions...
I just checked and I have a $24 Amazon balance, LOL, and $22 on Google Express which only has the Tumi battery mod (which I just returned--too heavy, but it's now down to $16.99, which was basically free with a Groupon). Based on my experience with Verizon, I suspect you were given incorrect information about the mod not qualifying as an eligible accessory. I was told something similar at a corporate Verizon store and they turned out to be wrong. When I'm back in town next week, I'll try to get confirmation for you
OT - Another 3rd-party store that currently has a Groupon, said they could special order the Incipio wireless charging battery mod for me. They're saying it's $34.99. I'm going to try to get it and try to get them to honor the price after they realize their mistake (retail is $89.99)......
Update: Got the camera mod!
Update:
Verizon confirmed this accessory isn't eligible for either the employer or military accessory discount.
I went ahead and got it at a discounted price. If I decide not to keep it after my trip this weekend, I'll sell it rather than return it, but that probably won't happen.
Which picture do you prefer? LOL. I also took some indoor shots at my desk and am not sure I see much of a difference...
Having trouble getting both the embedded pics to show up in this post, AND the link to the pictures to work when clicked on (clicking on the Google Photos links takes me to an XDA page)
Comparison shots
https://goo.gl/photos/ont5BbJrGtEN7vGm7
The comparison shots
Sorry about all the posts since there's no option to declutter by deleting.
I just realized if you click the little i at the top right of the pic, and keep that sidebar open as you scroll through the pics, it will show you which pics were taken with which camera (HB being the mod and XT being the phone without the mod).
Can you PM me? I'm not sure if that option exists here. Thanks.
Other than zoom shots, the Z2 Play takes better photos. It's an even bigger gap with the 2016 Z Force Droid and probably Z2 Force. But zoom shots are usually better with the Hasselblad. Also, you can experiment with other camera apps to see if you can get somewhat better shots.
Wow, thank you so much for shooting so many pics for comparison! They both look great but I think the Moto's color temperature is warmer than the Hasselblad's in these pictures, which look to be on the cooler/bluer end of the color spectrum. I like the warmer colors more, but that's something easily changed before or after. Given there are so many tweakable settings in the Hasselblad mod's camera software I'm sure there is something that can be turned on or off depending on the scene. Even so, with the addition of zoom and optical image stabilization I'm still in love with the mod and your efforts have only made me want it more. I now have a birthday gift recommendation to subtly pass to my wife!
Btw that street market looks cool!
danicrit said:
https://goo.gl/photos/ont5BbJrGtEN7vGm7
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---------- Post added at 08:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 AM ----------
I forgot to ask your opinion of the time required to focus with the Hasselblad, especially when zooming. Some of the reviews criticized it's slow focusing. Did you experience that, and if so was it constant or just during certain situations like low light?
tropho said:
Wow, thank you so much for shooting so many pics for comparison! They both look great but I think the Moto's color temperature is warmer than the Hasselblad's in these pictures, which look to be on the cooler/bluer end of the color spectrum. I like the warmer colors more, but that's something easily changed before or after. Given there are so many tweakable settings in the Hasselblad mod's camera software I'm sure there is something that can be turned on or off depending on the scene. Even so, with the addition of zoom and optical image stabilization I'm still in love with the mod and your efforts have only made me want it more. I now have a birthday gift recommendation to subtly pass to my wife!
Btw that street market looks cool!
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Thanks!
Sorry for the delayed response, I've been having multiple issues getting into my account and was just about to give up and create a new one. I preferred the Z2 Play shots and am debating not keeping the camera and selling it for the discounted price I paid (or just returning it).
benjamminh said:
Other than zoom shots, the Z2 Play takes better photos. It's an even bigger gap with the 2016 Z Force Droid and probably Z2 Force. But zoom shots are usually better with the Hasselblad. Also, you can experiment with other camera apps to see if you can get somewhat better shots.
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Click to collapse
Yup, I preferred the Z2 Play shots as well, and I'm not convinced there are "so many tweakable settings" with the mod that will really make enough of a difference to justify $200. I'm thinking about returning it, or selling it so someone else can get the discounted price--that's why I asked you to PM me in case you might be interested in buying it. I also wanted to find out what state you're in, since I'm traveling this weekend.
I actually had an album with Z2 Play shots a couple weeks ago, but already took it down. (I think all the pics are still in my trash folder though, if you're interested in seeing them.)
That's the Thursday Farmer's Market right outside my office
I've never noticed any lag/time issues with focusing or zooming, but then again I wasn't really trying/paying attention, literally just walking around doing point and shoot with no effort (the way most of us take our pictures on the fly). I knew from reading reviews this time around that I needed to press the shutter button halfway down, wait for it to focus, and then press the rest of the way to take the picture. One thing that did scare me a bit was that I started getting 'camera error' message issues after taking pics, and wasn't able to save those pics. I kept taking the mod on and off, restarting it manually, etc. It finally went back to working normally, but I don't know what caused it or how to fix it.... I've seen some user reviews that it just stopped working after a few months but am not sure how/why.
tropho said:
Wow, thank you so much for shooting so many pics for comparison! They both look great but I think the Moto's color temperature is warmer than the Hasselblad's in these pictures, which look to be on the cooler/bluer end of the color spectrum. I like the warmer colors more, but that's something easily changed before or after. Given there are so many tweakable settings in the Hasselblad mod's camera software I'm sure there is something that can be turned on or off depending on the scene. Even so, with the addition of zoom and optical image stabilization I'm still in love with the mod and your efforts have only made me want it more. I now have a birthday gift recommendation to subtly pass to my wife!
Btw that street market looks cool!
---------- Post added at 08:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 AM ----------
I forgot to ask your opinion of the time required to focus with the Hasselblad, especially when zooming. Some of the reviews criticized it's slow focusing. Did you experience that, and if so was it constant or just during certain situations like low light?
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Duh, sorry, I just realized if you're reading this thread you probably have a Z2 Play already as well? And therefore would have no need to see the pics I took with one... LOL. Or maybe not, since I guess anyone with a Z series phone might be interested in questions about the mods.
I'll be in New Orleans for the weekend, and will try to take and post a lot of pictures while trying to decide whether to keep the mod or not. I will say it's not all that quick or convenient standing there taking off/putting on the mod to take the comparison shots! I'm probably also taking an old, inactive Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus to use as a camera and for comparison purposes - it had some water damage but I don't think that affected the camera. I suspect it may be cloudy/rainy all weekend though :-/
A bit OT--I'm excited, finally got my notification that the free Soundboost 2 mod (promo with the new Play) is finally shipping. Though why it says allow up to 2-3 more weeks for delivery, I don't know... Can't wait! Wish I had it for my trip this weekend, where I'll be showing off my new phone and mods (but at the moment I only have the camera mod) to my son and his girlfriend (sophomore/junior in college). I wonder if he'll be jealous, LOL, since he's gotten sucked over to the dark side in the past couple years (iPhone).
Oh, just saw this in the FedEx tracking info--guess it will be waiting for me when I get home from my trip Monday night!
Scheduled delivery: Mon 8/21/2017 by end of day
danicrit said:
A bit OT--I'm excited, finally got my notification that the free Soundboost 2 mod (promo with the new Play) is finally shipping. Though why it says allow up to 2-3 more weeks for delivery, I don't know... Can't wait! Wish I had it for my trip this weekend, where I'll be showing off my new phone and mods (but at the moment I only have the camera mod) to my son and his girlfriend (sophomore/junior in college). I wonder if he'll be jealous, LOL, since he's gotten sucked over to the dark side in the past couple years (iPhone).
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Oh no, those camera error messages are not a good sign, nor is the report about it dying after a couple months. That definitely gives me pause about buying one, and I don't want my wishy-washiness to stop you from getting a refund if you're looking to return it. I greatly appreciate the offer (and I may regret that later) but I think it's probably the right move
danicrit said:
Yup, I preferred the Z2 Play shots as well, and I'm not convinced there are "so many tweakable settings" with the mod that will really make enough of a difference to justify $200. I'm thinking about returning it, or selling it so someone else can get the discounted price--that's why I asked you to PM me in case you might be interested in buying it. I also wanted to find out what state you're in, since I'm traveling this weekend.
I actually had an album with Z2 Play shots a couple weeks ago, but already took it down. (I think all the pics are still in my trash folder though, if you're interested in seeing them.)
That's the Thursday Farmer's Market right outside my office
I've never noticed any lag/time issues with focusing or zooming, but then again I wasn't really trying/paying attention, literally just walking around doing point and shoot with no effort (the way most of us take our pictures on the fly). I knew from reading reviews this time around that I needed to press the shutter button halfway down, wait for it to focus, and then press the rest of the way to take the picture. One thing that did scare me a bit was that I started getting 'camera error' message issues after taking pics, and wasn't able to save those pics. I kept taking the mod on and off, restarting it manually, etc. It finally went back to working normally, but I don't know what caused it or how to fix it.... I've seen some user reviews that it just stopped working after a few months but am not sure how/why.
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---------- Post added at 10:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 AM ----------
I have the original Soundboost and think it is awesome, and that you will be impressed if v2 is even better. It is LOUD and sounds great even at high volume. Beware though, it will kill your phone's battery even though it has battery capacity of it's own. Basically, the louder the volume the more power is required.
danicrit said:
A bit OT--I'm excited, finally got my notification that the free Soundboost 2 mod (promo with the new Play) is finally shipping. Though why it says allow up to 2-3 more weeks for delivery, I don't know... Can't wait! Wish I had it for my trip this weekend, where I'll be showing off my new phone and mods (but at the moment I only have the camera mod) to my son and his girlfriend (sophomore/junior in college). I wonder if he'll be jealous, LOL, since he's gotten sucked over to the dark side in the past couple years (iPhone).
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Is there any way of changing the font to bold font or any other font?
I thought ios was plain but Google taken it to another level.
This could be my last Google phone if they carry on this way.
Google are fast becoming a huge joke and will plummet further as far as smartphones are concerned.
riz157 said:
Is there any way of changing the font to bold font or any other font?
I thought ios was plain but Google taken it to another level.
This could be my last Google phone if they carry on this way.
Google are fast becoming a huge joke and will plummet further as far as smartphones are concerned.
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Hmm. yes, I too am extremely upset I cannot change my font. It is extremely illegible to the millions of users looking at the phone. Its such a boring and unflattering font that seems to just convey "read what I have to say and carry on with life".....
But seriously, because you cant change your font is the downfall of a phone? This is an odd rant from someone with 2600+ posts. Oh, and feel free to go back to iOS where you cant change your notification tones to anything but what Apple gives you...but who am I to judge what makes you happy.
HyperM3 said:
Hmm. yes, I too am extremely upset I cannot change my font. It is extremely illegible to the millions of users looking at the phone. Its such a boring and unflattering font that seems to just convey "read what I have to say and carry on with life".....
But seriously, because you cant change your font is the downfall of a phone? This is an odd rant from someone with 2600+ posts. Oh, and feel free to go back to iOS where you cant change your notification tones to anything but what Apple gives you...but who am I to judge what makes you happy.
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Lol. No it's not the only reason for my rant. Nothing personal mate just my opinion, sorry to upset you. Wait see next year Google have to drastically change if they at all want to be taken serious.
Nacho notch
Cheap build
4gb RAM
Single camera
No theming
Battery life
And then the pricing
At best this is a mid-range phone at flagship price.
I thought apple were a rip-off but Google are worse.
Glad price head dropped in the UK by 100 but still pricy.
riz157 said:
Lol. No it's not the only reason for my rant. Nothing personal mate just my opinion, sorry to upset you. Wait see next year Google have to drastically change if they at all want to be taken serious.
Nacho notch
Cheap build
4gb RAM
Single camera
No theming
Battery life
And then the pricing
At best this is a mid-range phone at flagship price.
I thought apple were a rip-off but Google are worse.
Glad price head dropped in the UK by 100 but still pricy.
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Click to collapse
Its all good. I just think its funny what some people deem as something that makes or breaks something. The notch doesnt bother me. I think the build is pretty solid(it doesnt flex or creak from plastic). The RAM doesnt bother me, but then again, Im not doing CAD on my phone or extreme gaming. Whats wrong with a single camera>? They have already proven its about the software and its still one of the best cameras out there. You can do theming if you root it. Battery life is incredible, but then again it all comes down to how you use it. Pricing sucks and I agree with you, but nobody put a gun to our heads and said we had to buy it.
Honestly, if I wasnt such a Google fanboy, I would have jumped all over the One+ 6T. I think thats perfect for the price.
HyperM3 said:
Its all good. I just think its funny what some people deem as something that makes or breaks something. The notch doesnt bother me. I think the build is pretty solid(it doesnt flex or creak from plastic). The RAM doesnt bother me, but then again, Im not doing CAD on my phone or extreme gaming. Whats wrong with a single camera>? They have already proven its about the software and its still one of the best cameras out there. You can do theming if you root it. Battery life is incredible, but then again it all comes down to how you use it. Pricing sucks and I agree with you, but nobody put a gun to our heads and said we had to buy it.
Honestly, if I wasnt such a Google fanboy, I would have jumped all over the One+ 6T. I think thats perfect for the price.
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I was massive Google fan but I think I'd go with with Samsung note 9.
I'm going to get rid of it and get note 9 hopefully.
Cheap build lmao! Watch the durability test on youtube! Solves your cheap build concern, our single camera does better then phones with 2 or 3! Go back to iPhone
riz157 said:
I was massive Google fan but I think I'd go with with Samsung note 9.
I'm going to get rid of it and get note 9 hopefully.
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No, I have a friend with a 9 and she has to reboot all the time. Nothing but issues. Plus, you want to talk about build quality...
Sooo, it has arguably the best camera of all phones in 2018 (several sites such as gizmodo named it number 1), and every other phone that topped the list has at least two cameras. How is having more cameras better then?
The build is great IMO. I DO wish they got rid of the rear top plate, it's just dumb, and maybe used metal on the sides, and perhaps a different material that still allows wireless charging. Having said that, I still dig the build. It feels great in my hands, and stood up very well to the toughness test I think iFixit does.
And how is this not a flagship? It has the SD 845, same as all other flagships, an QHD OLED screen from SAMSUNG, which is superb, dual front speakers, I mean, it's pretty top tier. Is it the 4 GB of RAM? Because I'm here to tell you, there are not many cases where you'll ever use that. More RAM also means the system eats up more (which is why some people will argue their 6 or 8 GB phones are always using near or more than 4 GB, heard that argument way too many times). And I'm a sys admin, and currently my computer is using 6 GB of RAM, and you should see all the stuff I have open. This is a full desktop OS system too.
Also, since when can you customize an iPhone AT ALL? You can't theme it, or really do anything whatsoever except maybe change the order of the app icons. If you're complaining about the lack of customization, iPhone doesn't have any.
Sorry, I know you are entitled to your own opinion and I'm not trying to start an argument, and these are things you don't like, but you can't say that the above reasons are bad.
---------- Post added at 01:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------
Also, my phone is rooted, which was incredibly easy, and I have a different font, different app icons, audio mods which make even my 13 speaker bose system in my pathfinder sound way better, if I want I can change just about anything. Try rooting a Note 9, or really any other Android except the OnePlus's. And have fun jailbreaking an iPhone.
gettinwicked said:
Sooo, it has arguably the best camera of all phones in 2018 (several sites such as gizmodo named it number 1), and every other phone that topped the list has at least two cameras. How is having more cameras better then?
The build is great IMO. I DO wish they got rid of the rear top plate, it's just dumb, and maybe used metal on the sides, and perhaps a different material that still allows wireless charging. Having said that, I still dig the build. It feels great in my hands, and stood up very well to the toughness test I think iFixit does.
And how is this not a flagship? It has the SD 845, same as all other flagships, an QHD OLED screen from SAMSUNG, which is superb, dual front speakers, I mean, it's pretty top tier. Is it the 4 GB of RAM? Because I'm here to tell you, there are not many cases where you'll ever use that. More RAM also means the system eats up more (which is why some people will argue their 6 or 8 GB phones are always using near or more than 4 GB, heard that argument way too many times). And I'm a sys admin, and currently my computer is using 6 GB of RAM, and you should see all the stuff I have open. This is a full desktop OS system too.
Also, since when can you customize an iPhone AT ALL? You can't theme it, or really do anything whatsoever except maybe change the order of the app icons. If you're complaining about the lack of customization, iPhone doesn't have any.
Sorry, I know you are entitled to your own opinion and I'm not trying to start an argument, and these are things you don't like, but you can't say that the above reasons are bad.
---------- Post added at 01:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------
Also, my phone is rooted, which was incredibly easy, and I have a different font, different app icons, audio mods which make even my 13 speaker bose system in my pathfinder sound way better, if I want I can change just about anything. Try rooting a Note 9, or really any other Android except the OnePlus's. And have fun jailbreaking an iPhone.
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I'm considering root my UK phone. Warranty is out of the window.
Which rom would you recommend and is stable? Has many customizable features?
riz157 said:
I'm considering root my UK phone. Warranty is out of the window.
Which rom would you recommend and is stable? Has many customizable features?
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Google doesn't void a Pixel warranty if you root. Having said that, if you need a replacement, I would flash it back to stock and lock the bootloader.
Anyway, I don't use a different ROM. Stock Pixel launcher. I use Pixel Launcher Mods (the app from XDA labs) to change the app icons and remove the alarm from the notification bar. I flash a custom font - rosemary. I use Viper4Android for audio mods - this makes the speakers and Bluetooth whatever sound way better. There's also Adaway to get rid of ads in apps. I haven't used it in a while though. Anyway, tons of stuff you can do with root. Also, there are a couple ROMs out, just check the development threads. A lot of people us a different launcher from the play store. These allow the things pixel launcher mods does and more.