nexus New to Android and Galaxy Nexus!

[ARchamps]

Hey guys,

I'm taking a leap and I will be getting the Galaxy Nexus from Rogers when they get it next week (hopefully!). I'm coming from a Blackberry 9870 and I have a iPod Touch, so this will be a new experience for me. I've read numerous reviews and this seems like the phone for me. I was thinking about the S2, but that Touchwiz is really ugly. Stock ICS FTW!

Anyways I had a few questions! Hopefully your vast knowlege can help me out!

1. How is the data consumption on the GN? I currently have a 500MB plan and I know that won't be enough. I'll have to do some negotiating with Rogers. On average, how much data do you guys use? Can it be easily tracked?

2. WiFi. If I use WiFi where available, will the phone default to WiFi over the Carrier's Data Network?

3. What does rooting do? I've jailbroken my iPod and customized a lot of things on it. What advantages does it provide? Will I still be able to customize skins without rooting?

4. How is flash? I'd like to be able to watch videos from NBA.com or ESPN from time to time. How is the performance on the GN?

Thanks in advance for all replies!

[djdanster]

1. How is the data consumption on the GN? I currently have a 500MB plan and I know that won't be enough. I'll have to do some negotiating with Rogers. On average, how much data do you guys use? Can it be easily tracked?

2. WiFi. If I use WiFi where available, will the phone default to WiFi over the Carrier's Data Network?

3. What does rooting do? I've jailbroken my iPod and customized a lot of things on it. What advantages does it provide? Will I still be able to customize skins without rooting?

4. How is flash? I'd like to be able to watch videos from NBA.com or ESPN from time to time. How is the performance on the GN?

Thanks in advance for all replies!

1. I have the galaxy s2 and the data consumption can be controlled fairly easily. When not using 3G data, just turn off 3G connectivity.

2. Yes, the phone will use wifi over carrier's network when available.

3.Rooting gives you root access to your phone's file system, it's good if for a more advanced user who would like to modify the OS in a fashion.

4. On my SGS2 (which is similar to the GN hardware) flash runs pretty well :)

[ToneKnee]

Hey guys,

I'm taking a leap and I will be getting the Galaxy Nexus from Rogers when they get it next week (hopefully!). I'm coming from a Blackberry 9870 and I have a iPod Touch, so this will be a new experience for me. I've read numerous reviews and this seems like the phone for me. I was thinking about the S2, but that Touchwiz is really ugly. Stock ICS FTW!

Anyways I had a few questions! Hopefully your vast knowlege can help me out!

1. How is the data consumption on the GN? I currently have a 500MB plan and I know that won't be enough. I'll have to do some negotiating with Rogers. On average, how much data do you guys use? Can it be easily tracked?

2. WiFi. If I use WiFi where available, will the phone default to WiFi over the Carrier's Data Network?

3. What does rooting do? I've jailbroken my iPod and customized a lot of things on it. What advantages does it provide? Will I still be able to customize skins without rooting?

4. How is flash? I'd like to be able to watch videos from NBA.com or ESPN from time to time. How is the performance on the GN?

Thanks in advance for all replies!

The data usage has nothing to do with the phone, but the user who uses it. If you think it's not enough for what you want to use it for, then it's not enough. If you download apps via WiFi and surf occasionally, use Facebook, Gmail etc then I don't see why 500MB isn't good enough, I was on 500MB and it was fine for what I used it for. Data usage can be tracked in ICS. I think the default limit is 2GB, setting this to your target of 500MB will give you warnings when you hit certain usage percentages.

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

Rooting is only useful if you need root access to the phones files (e.g. so you can get into the Android/data/ directory). I rooted my phone to get around a bug in an app, but I'd say unless you have a reason to do it.. don't bother!

[still1]

1. How is the data consumption on the GN? I currently have a 500MB plan and I know that won't be enough. I'll have to do some negotiating with Rogers. On average, how much data do you guys use? Can it be easily tracked?

2. WiFi. If I use WiFi where available, will the phone default to WiFi over the Carrier's Data Network?

3. What does rooting do? I've jailbroken my iPod and customized a lot of things on it. What advantages does it provide? Will I still be able to customize skins without rooting?

4. How is flash? I'd like to be able to watch videos from NBA.com or ESPN from time to time. How is the performance on the GN?

Thanks in advance for all replies!

1. Data consumption is moderate and it can be controlled. Galaxy Nexus(ICS) even have the option to cut out data when a limit is reached. You can set that in option. remember to set the billing date in you phone so that GN knows when to reset the data every month.

2. Yes, its by default.... if WiFi is available it only uses WiFi

3. You don't need to root ur phone... root is for advanced users. Most feature you get from Jail breaking Iphone is already available in Android like sideload app, launcher etc. Its only needed when you have to modify system files or install a new OS

4.Flash runs fine and is supported in GN.

Good luck with your purchase.

[ARchamps]

The data usage has nothing to do with the phone, but the user who uses it. If you think it's not enough for what you want to use it for, then it's not enough. If you download apps via WiFi and surf occasionally, use Facebook, Gmail etc then I don't see why 500MB isn't good enough, I was on 500MB and it was fine for what I used it for. Data usage can be tracked in ICS. I think the default limit is 2GB, setting this to your target of 500MB will give you warnings when you hit certain usage percentages.

Of course I understand that. I was looking to get some feedback on the usage of the data i.e. widgets in the backgorunds and apps that you all commonly use. Currently on my Blackberry, I browse the net, go on FB, and use GPS occasionally. I usually never go over 300MB. With an Android, the "data flows" easier to the phone so I could see myself exceeding my limit without me knowing it. That's more what I was getting at. For example, the article today about the 4S using more data.

Thank you all for your replies so far!

[still1]

I missed this point on my last post. GN/ICS let you disable Data on an individual app basis.

so if you have news feeds widget or some app which uses a lot of data you can disable data on it and those app will only use internet when its on wifi.

[Androidslave]

There is a good free app called 3g watchdog.

I was going to get the 2 gig plan but opted wisely for the unlimited. Well limited at 10 gig. I browse, download a small amount of music but i stream football and some tv shows so even though we have wifi i sometimes stick with the phones plan if signal is better.

My average..no more than 4 or 5 gig per month

[Roger H. Veteran]

As others have said, don't worry about data so much. Android 4.0 (ICS) has built in data monitoring so you can see what is using how much data and disable it from using 3G data and only use wifi. Mine reset yesterday and so far - not really using it much it's only used 2MB out of my 1GB. Facebook app using the most. Normally I had a 250MB data allowance and that was fine for the past few months, just went crazy during christmas shopping time and ran out so i got 1GB this time around, only $10 more so it wasn't that big of a deal.

Don't worry about your data usage though, set your limit to 500MB and the phone will stop allowing 3G data connections once that limit is reach unless you force it to knowing you'll have overage charges. I am in wifi at home and at work all day so i don't really need 1GB, but can't get a lower option between 250MB and 1GB so yeah.

[techbeck]

Hey guys,

1. How is the data consumption on the GN? I currently have a 500MB plan and I know that won't be enough. I'll have to do some negotiating with Rogers. On average, how much data do you guys use? Can it be easily tracked?

Yes, there is a setting/area where you can set the data limit and keep track on how much data you use over 3g/4g and wifi. Will even disable your data when the specified limit has been reached.

2. WiFi. If I use WiFi where available, will the phone default to WiFi over the Carrier's Data Network?

Yes

3. What does rooting do? I've jailbroken my iPod and customized a lot of things on it. What advantages does it provide? Will I still be able to customize skins without rooting?

Can install bunch of different apps. Install new ROMS, updates that have been l leaked, skins, new OS versions...a bunch of different things. Visit XDA forums and see for yourself.

4. How is flash? I'd like to be able to watch videos from NBA.com or ESPN from time to time. How is the performance on the GN?

I have had no problems with FLASH. Works great..smooth.

[Sir Topham Hatt]

1. How is the data consumption on the GN? I currently have a 500MB plan and I know that won't be enough. I'll have to do some negotiating with Rogers. On average, how much data do you guys use? Can it be easily tracked?

It depends what you want to do with the phone.

Data for me has been fairly low, barely using 300MB let alone the 500 I have. But I don't sit there and watch YouTube for hours on end.

I would also recommend 3G Watchdog (you're not missing out with the free one, I think it's actually better than paid!). However I haven't installed it as yet and don't plan on doing either as the GN has it built in for me to keep an eye on. Just be careful though - there's no way to set the data amount. So if you're half way through the month, then you can't tell the GN to start at 200MB or whatever, so you need to start it when you've just been reset.

2. WiFi. If I use WiFi where available, will the phone default to WiFi over the Carrier's Data Network?

I'm on O2 in the UK and it does, so I would guess it's the same.

3. What does rooting do? I've jailbroken my iPod and customized a lot of things on it. What advantages does it provide? Will I still be able to customize skins without rooting?

Rooting will allow you to do... well... I don't really know either.

I use JuiceDefender and RootExplorer (it's like Windows Explorer), both of which need root access.

Coming from the HTC Desire, I thought root access would allow me to un-install some default apps and such, but it didn't.

However on the Galaxy Nexus, they seem to have fixed that by having a nice little "disable" button in the apps list (in settings), which effectively removes it from the phone's eye. Scroll to the bottom of the list and you can enable it again if you need it back.

So... for me, some apps I have require root, I don't use it though.

4. How is flash? I'd like to be able to watch videos from NBA.com or ESPN from time to time. How is the performance on the GN?

Not sure.

If YouTube uses flash, it's okay. But the YouTube app is a bit rubbish.

[Ambroos]

I have a Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, and I use around 1250MB of data every month, but that's because I never have WiFi available (ever) (and I don't use tethering).

[ARchamps]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to provide a small update -- I got the Galaxy Nexus! So far, I must say it's pretty awesome (coming from a Blackberry). My only gripe so far has been battery life, although its getting better playing around with settings etc. I may opt for an extended battery but the GSM version is hard to find.

Overall, very happy!

[AbandonedTrolley]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to provide a small update -- I got the Galaxy Nexus! So far, I must say it's pretty awesome (coming from a Blackberry). My only gripe so far has been battery life, although its getting better playing around with settings etc. I may opt for an extended battery but the GSM version is hard to find.

Overall, very happy!

I run a program called Juice Defender, however I am on GB and not ICS so not sure of it's benefits on there. But it controls things like automatically switching off data when the phone is idle and just checking every 30/60 minutes. Things like that can make a big difference. Also if you have Facebook/Twitter, look how often they are refreshing, and maybe increase the gap between checks.