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Here’s a curious one. If rumours are to be believed, LG’s actually stopped producing Nexus 4s, and has turned manufacturing efforts to its incoming next-generation phones instead. Does Google have another Nexus right around the corner? Or has LG simply had enough of flogging hardware for next to nothing?
Now that CES is all done and dusted, MWC is next on the global tech roadshow. LG has hinted in the past that the Nexus 4 was simply one of many Google-partnership products waiting in the wings, so perhaps we’ll see the next LG Nexus appear next month in Barcelona?
It seems feasibe that the two will launch a new phone soon, but it equally seems bizarre to cease production on a phone that’s clearly selling gangbusters, without one to immediately replace it. So, for the time being, I’d chalk this one up as purely a pinch-of-salt rumour. Anyway, the writing is seemingly on the wall for the Nexus 4, so if you want one, I’d suggest getting in there pronto, if Google ever gets a solid stock level of the things that is. [IBTimes via Cnet]
Is This the Next LG Nexus Phone?
This Is the LG Nexus 4
Is a Samsung Galaxy S III Already on the Way?
No.
Personally I couldn’t care either way, got mine and as long as it lasts a couple of years with fast Android updates etc then I’m happy (especially as I just downloaded Screen Filter which allows me to dim my screen really low!).
Yours finally arrived then Mr. T?
indeed, few niggles but overall very happy
Good stuff
Sounds like a useful little app. It’s currently downloading
Thanks for the heads up on Screen filter, will be nice to try on my Nexus 7 for reading
I suppose it’s possible that it could happen to tie in with the release of Key Lime Pie, as usually there’s a reference device available.
Yeah, and MWC would be the place to launch it, I guess. Just seems a bit soon, but then looks what Apple did to the iPad. All bets are off.
It depends on the availability of the OS – if they’re announcing and previewing, but not formally launching for another month or so, then it would fit with the 6 monthly release schedule for Android atm.
This does however smell a little as if the roadmap from 18/24 months ago called for KLP to be released on the N4, but something fundamental wasn’t ready. So rather than break the cycle, push some of the improvements into a 4.2 drop with the LG N4 and release KLP 6 months later, with possibly a spec-bumped N4.1?
Nonsense, If there is a new Nexus coming with KLP (which is likely as PrinterElf says) it will be launched at I/O and all the attendees will get one free.
Put it this way, if LG has stopped producing them, current stock levels won’t last till I/O, that’s for sure.
Excellent news… especially if they up the internal storage or add a MicroSD slot. Either of those things would be enough to pull me away from iOS (assuming Google manage to order enough devices this time round).
In equally good news, it would cost the eBay hawkers a bob or two.
They might increase the storage, but probably wouldn’t add a MicroSD slot. That would require a significant shift in Google’s current policy.
No way they will add an SD slot.
Definitely no MicroSD slot, a Google employee/PR person commented on why, I believe it had something to do with wanting to use MTP instead of UMS as well as some other things.
I’d say it could be a mini or an S version or something like that. Oh wait, it isn’t Apple.
In all seriousness, Android phones do get the mini or S treatment sometimes so it could be?
Or maybe they are mistaken and it is not a phone but a new Tablet on the way?
good example of that
HTC OneX and the OneX+
Samsung Galaxy SIII and Samsung Galaxy SIII Mini
Sony Xperia S and SL, or Arc and Arc S.
These are usually mid-life facelifts, though. The Nexus has only been on sale for a few weeks.
That is a very good point you make. Maybe they ware working on a mid-range phone then, based upon the Nexus 4?
*are working
Perhaps.
I reckon the Nexus 4 was never designed to meet kind of demand that Google are seeing, so maybe they’re designing a phone that’s slightly cheaper to produce and easier to manufacture. Something that can sell in numbers and still turn a profit.
If that happens, it would mark a shift in Google’s Nexus strategy towards the mass-market.
I’m guessing here. I still think it’s more likely that the Nexus 4 will continue production in some form.
i am thinking what i would like on a new nexus and cant really think of anything that it hasn’t already got, i think a lot of people want LTE but what else hardware wise would you want
i dont think we will see sd cards on nexus devices anyway, but a 32gb model would solve all but a few people problems (i have always said 16gb is not enough for me, but since i have had my nexus10 i rarely play racing or complex games on my phone any-more) so reckon they should bring out a 16 and 32gb models
removable battery would be nice, but everything else is software really
Battery being removable, constantly pushing the volume buttons when also pushing the power button (when held 1 handed), not being allowed through latest o/s to have NFC or Tasker switch to Airplane mode and lack of accessories (chargers (wireless or otherwise) are my niggles
Still waiting for my wireless charging orb. A car dock would be nice as well, particularly if it had a built-in wireless charger.
But alas, I’m dreaming here. Back to reality…
RE: Tasker
Have you downloaded Secure Settings?
No, to be honest I use Tasker very little and Secure Settings looks beyond my needs (and tech ability), I just want things like auto wifi in certain places, auto airplane mode in others and I’d love a auto Bank of England hacking app that allows me to create money out of thin air as seen in quantitative easing
It’s really not that difficult – instead of using Tasker’s built in functionality, it’s just a plug-in.
So for both conditions and actions, just choose Plugin, Secure Settings, [condition/action]; rather than the Tasker option you could have used pre-GB.
The main function I use it for is to enable the screen lock pin code when I’m not at home:
State: Wifi Connected, %WIFIHOME (lists the MAC addresses of the wifi access points I consider ‘home’)
Task: Secure Settings, Password/Pin Disable
Exit Task: Secure Settings, Password/Pin Enable.
Your example sounds useful (although I hate password / pin settings and never use them) but it starts to look like programming which my brain just shuts down on
I think the interface is one thing that makes it a little more daunting than perhaps it should be.
All this does is enable the pin lock when I’m not home* and consists of the 1 condition and 2 actions above.
Programming, no; GUI driven scripting, yes.
*or somewhere I can trust leaving my phone out, hence the variable with multiple MAC addresses rather than just hard code the home MAC.
There was a video on the Android dev YouTube channel where they took Tasker and updated the GUI to comply with Holo guidelines. It looked amazing, and I’ve seen speculation that Tasker’s getting an update soon to include a new GUI.
The current one is so terrible that in the 2+ years I’ve been using it I’m still discovering new things it can do.
It does take a little getting used to! The dev is working on an UI update, yes.
One of the more recent and relevant tasks I’ve written checks the outside temperature at 04:00, and again at 06:00. If the average is <1°C, then it sets a different alarm for 06:15 to force me to get up and defrost the car
now that is useful and quite impressive
And worked to great effect this morning!
Well remember Google I/O 2013 will be in May this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re spec bumping the Nexus 4, especially as KLP is round the corner
As a current N4 owner and loving it, I’m hoping this is false
1) Jelly Bean launched at Google I/O without new phone hardware, only tablet, so just because Key Lime Pie is on the way doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a new phone with it
2) The N4 has 2GB of RAM and a lightning fast processor. What spec bumps does it need for KLP…? I’m guessing none for a reference phone, let the partners build the bleeding edge ones.
3) SD cards aren’t coming back on pure Nexus devices. People need to let go or buy a brand
[quote]
Everybody likes the idea of having an SD card, but in reality it’s just confusing for users. If you’re saving photos, videos or music, where does it go? Is it on your phone? Or on your card? Should there be a setting? Prompt everytime? What happens to the experience when you swap out the card? It’s just too complicated.
http://www.androidcentral.com/google-s-matias-duarte-answers-burning-nexus-questions
[/quote]
Yeah, that’s Google’s justification for omitting the SD slot (and probably Apple’s as well). They’re absolutely right as well. Most users don’t want to have to think about where they’re storing stuff, they just want it to work.
However, for the rest of us who aren’t confused by such things, it is a pain in the ass.
I did think not having an SD card and only 16gig of storage would be a probolem when I got my Nexus 4 but to be honest with Google Drive, Dropbox et al, I can’t say I miss it. Great phone by the way and just glad I managed to snaffle one from Virgin while stocks last.
Yes, most users wouldn’t miss it. The reality is that most people don’t use a fraction of the space that’s on their phones, and Google know it. I currently have 13GB free on my Nexus 4.
Still, I’d rather have an SD slot than not, and if it’s provided in addition to 16GB of internal storage, then it need only be used if required.
Surely if they had halted production, and thats why orders have been left delayed / unfulfilled, then they would have to cancel the 1000s of orders placed for the N4?
Even though the N4 is a lot cheaper than iPhone/Pads, this is sure to piss a lot of people off, Apple style
My N4 is still on freaking backorder. I haven’t had an update email since I ordered it on 5th December, and now there’s talk about a newer version?
Feeling tempted to cancel the order
That sucks – I phoned up Virgin and got one the next day on contract. Maybe their sorting the phone companies like Virgin, 02 etc before honouring orders which, if it is the case, is really shit.
Thats quite possible since I don’t think they’re subsidising the prices for the carriers – I was under the impression they were only doing that for the Play store orders