New Google Nexus 7!!! And Android!

09/12/2013 11:57:44 AM · #1

Ok, I'm a dummy. I have a dumb phone with a pay as you go plan (I spend a whopping $30 per year or so for my cell phone usage!). But I'm almost always in front of my computer anyway.

Well, for work and when I do travel, I've finally decided to get a little smart. I just ordered a Nexus 7 32 GB LTE. I certainly can't justify paying monthly fees for a smart phone, but I can get a month plan whenever I travel with this with no contract. And since my office phone is Skype based, hopefully I can even use it as a phone when I travel. Mainly it's to test software and keep u with things in the tablet world (I also have the original Kindle fire, but being locked into Amazon is a problem for keeping up in tablet developments).

Anyway, I'm curious who has the new Nexus 7, or even the old one, your feelings about it, and any advice for apps and such. I guess that means anyone using Android can jump in.

FourPointX

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/12/2013 12:04:26 PM · #2

since it has the snapdragon s4 processor, take advantage of the snapdragon battery guru app. it's free, very customizable, and does wonders with the battery usage. (for me at least, ymmv)

Message edited by author 2013-09-12 12:04:38.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

09/12/2013 01:37:53 PM · #3

I have had the 'old' Nexus 7 for a couple of months now (no phone; I already have one) and like it.
I bought it mainly as a reader as the Kindle machines (3 of them) kept breaking on me, so I've got
my entire Kindle library on it and it works well for that and for quick internet use.

I have not yet figured out how to keep the screen from changing horizontal to vertical when shifting
reading positions. Other than that, it seems pretty intuitive to use and that's good because the
instruction book resides on line someplace.

09/12/2013 03:45:26 PM · #4

Originally posted by sfalice:

I have not yet figured out how to keep the screen from changing horizontal to vertical when shifting
reading positions. Other than that, it seems pretty intuitive to use and that's good because the
instruction book resides on line someplace.

Pull down the Settings menu from the upper right. Scroll way down to "Accessibility". Look to the right and uncheck the box "auto rotate screen" and you'll be fine.

09/12/2013 03:47:29 PM · #5

Originally posted by Neil:

Anyway, I'm curious who has the new Nexus 7, or even the old one, your feelings about it, and any advice for apps and such. I guess that means anyone using Android can jump in.

Get "Advanced Task Killer" for free at the App store. This will let you kill apps that refuse to go away until you turn the machine off. And for SURE start a FlipBook.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

09/12/2013 04:42:12 PM · #6

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by sfalice:
I have not yet figured out how to keep the screen from changing horizontal to vertical when shifting
reading positions. Other than that, it seems pretty intuitive to use and that's good because the
instruction book resides on line someplace.

Pull down the Settings menu from the upper right. Scroll way down to "Accessibility". Look to the right and uncheck the box "auto rotate screen" and you'll be fine.

Oh, thanks for that. I like keeping my eyeballs from rotating with the book.
:)

09/12/2013 04:47:54 PM · #7

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

On the Fire, there's a special "locked/unlocked" icon in the control bar at the top. Nothing like that on regular Android? That way you don't have to change settings, just a quick, lock/unlock.

LevT

OM System OM-1

09/12/2013 04:52:40 PM · #8

Neil, of course there is an app for that :). I have an icon on my second screen which I have to tap once to turn auto-rotate on or off (I usually keep it off, since this auto-rotation drives me crazy)

09/12/2013 06:50:14 PM · #9

Originally posted by LevT:

Neil, of course there is an app for that :). I have an icon on my second screen which I have to tap once to turn auto-rotate on or off (I usually keep it off, since this auto-rotation drives me crazy)

That works nicely, as long as you WANT the horizontal format. But Jellybean won't let you lock in portrait orientation, apparently...

09/15/2013 02:49:14 PM · #10

It shipped and will be here Tuesday!

Now, question: I want to leave my laptop home on my next trip...what can I buy to load some, and look at some, photos from my SD cards. Is there an SD reader that works?

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

09/15/2013 03:11:31 PM · #11

Originally posted by Neil:

You need a USB-to-MIcro USB adaptor, and you need a file software from the app store.

Yo_Spiff

09/15/2013 06:57:29 PM · #12

I have the first generation Nexus 7. Love it. I had a problem however, my wife appropriated it for her own use. I had to buy her a tablet to get mine back.

I've been looking at some of the 8" tablets hitting coming out now and I may get the one Asus has announced when it comes out. 8" offers about a 30% larger viewing area but is still holdable in one hand.

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

You need a USB-to-MIcro USB adaptor, and you need a file software from the app store.

Is there tablet software that can read RAW files now?

09/15/2013 08:34:09 PM · #13

Any recommendations for cases, portable keyboards?

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

09/15/2013 09:03:18 PM · #14

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Is there tablet software that can read RAW files now?

I haven't looked. I just want it for storage so far...

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

09/15/2013 09:22:35 PM · #15

I went an looked. There are a few RAW viewers and even a RAW converter for Android. Have to see if I can get Android to recognize a CF card reader.

Yo_Spiff

09/15/2013 09:26:59 PM · #16

Originally posted by Neil:

Any recommendations for cases, portable keyboards?

I have a Blurex brand case that I bought from Amazon. They are making it for the 2nd generation version. Only minor issue was the hand strap on the inside cover was not sewn correctly and it separated. Not a big deal for me at $15.
Blurex case for Nexus 7

09/18/2013 02:58:11 PM · #17

thanks for all the advice.

I received it yesterday...today struggled for a bit trying to get the free prepay t-mobile pass setup...but finally did after calling them, getting transferred 4 times and hanging up the fourth time.

Then I turned the device completely off and on again, for the second time since inserting the SIM card, and this time it came up t-mobile, and I was able to activate the SIM. Now back on Wifi until my next trip (I only have a free month or 2 GB). But hopefully, that's all I need for as little as I expect to use it while away from wifi.

Having very limited use of apps on the Fire, and with their limited, custom interface, I have a lot to learn about Android 4.3!

Google voice commands are cool, but don't seem to be present throughout the interface, as I think they should.