Re: Nexus 10
Posted: Tue 27 Nov, 2012 14.09
So, I got the Nexus 7 with 3G. It arrived a few hours ago, and I'm instantly in love with it. For the price, it really is a no-brainer.
Being an Android phone user (HTC Sensation running ICS), I'm amazed by the improvements that the stock version of Android Jelly Bean includes. I'm not bowled over by apps etc yet as none of that is really new, but the stock e-mail app is nice, browsing is a dream so far (still not entirely sure about Chrome), and I'm sure I'll get into the music, books side of things shortly.
A few 'freaky' things did surprise me:
1. I took it out of the box, switched it on, gave it my WiFi password, then it greeted me by name and asked me to enter my Google Account password - it already had my email address on-screen. They must have 'guessed' it was for me given I ordered it using the same Google Account online?
2. I wasn't expecting it to pull down all the apps I already have on my Android phone and install them onto this. I know you can configure the devices separately and I'd rather do that. I can only assume it was trying to be 'helpful'. Likewise, it's pulled down (from the Google Account cloud) photos from years ago that I forgot I'd saved on Picasa Web Albums, with tight sharing settings. I'm now struggling to get pics of an ex off my new tablet. A little bit awkward.
3. Google Now is the 'wow' feature, and I can almost see this as becoming the culmination of what Google is about. Super predictive search, with it reminding you of all sorts of stuff and nudging you to try/see things round about where you are. If you're not familar with it, some more info on The Verge (amazing).
The bit that's pissed me off a bit is the OS's peer pressure on you to disclose your location (to Google - not others mind you), and keep your location being disclosed even when apps like Maps etc are no longer running, pushing you to define your locations (set up 'home', 'work' etc). It also enabled Web Search History across my Google Account even though I specifically switched this off a few months back. I realise this is all about a 'tailored' more predictive search/prompting experience, involving them rummaging my calendar and GMail emails for things coming up in my life, but it does seem like I'm finally surrendering somewhat.
That said, I'll give it a bash, and if it freaks me out too much, I suppose I can switch off all the personalising things again, and they do make that quite easy.
Being an Android phone user (HTC Sensation running ICS), I'm amazed by the improvements that the stock version of Android Jelly Bean includes. I'm not bowled over by apps etc yet as none of that is really new, but the stock e-mail app is nice, browsing is a dream so far (still not entirely sure about Chrome), and I'm sure I'll get into the music, books side of things shortly.
A few 'freaky' things did surprise me:
1. I took it out of the box, switched it on, gave it my WiFi password, then it greeted me by name and asked me to enter my Google Account password - it already had my email address on-screen. They must have 'guessed' it was for me given I ordered it using the same Google Account online?
2. I wasn't expecting it to pull down all the apps I already have on my Android phone and install them onto this. I know you can configure the devices separately and I'd rather do that. I can only assume it was trying to be 'helpful'. Likewise, it's pulled down (from the Google Account cloud) photos from years ago that I forgot I'd saved on Picasa Web Albums, with tight sharing settings. I'm now struggling to get pics of an ex off my new tablet. A little bit awkward.
3. Google Now is the 'wow' feature, and I can almost see this as becoming the culmination of what Google is about. Super predictive search, with it reminding you of all sorts of stuff and nudging you to try/see things round about where you are. If you're not familar with it, some more info on The Verge (amazing).
The bit that's pissed me off a bit is the OS's peer pressure on you to disclose your location (to Google - not others mind you), and keep your location being disclosed even when apps like Maps etc are no longer running, pushing you to define your locations (set up 'home', 'work' etc). It also enabled Web Search History across my Google Account even though I specifically switched this off a few months back. I realise this is all about a 'tailored' more predictive search/prompting experience, involving them rummaging my calendar and GMail emails for things coming up in my life, but it does seem like I'm finally surrendering somewhat.
That said, I'll give it a bash, and if it freaks me out too much, I suppose I can switch off all the personalising things again, and they do make that quite easy.
