andrways

Google Updates Zagat With A New Tablet UI, More Locations, Street View Integration, And More

adnane 7 Applications, News February 14, 2014

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People didn't always hate Zagat, but 
Google's new vision for the iconic restaurant review guide has not been 
widely accepted. The service became free, but Google also revamped it 
and limited the number of cities it tracked. The new update makes some 
tweaks to the app and expands the supported cities, but it's probably 
not going to do much to improve the app's 2.4 star rating. 
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="1" height="136" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_1_thumb3.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="1" width="217" />  <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="3"><img alt="3" height="136" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_3_thumb5.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="3" width="217" /></a><a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="4"><img alt="4" height="200" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_4_thumb3.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="4" width="320" /></a> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="5"><img alt="5" height="200" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_5_thumb3.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="5" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="more-217427"></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's the changelog for the new update:</div>
<div class="note" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="notetip">
<ul>
<li>Great new layout for tablets</li>
<li>Many more locations, including New Jersey, Miami, Houston, Long Island</li>
<li>Easy access to Zagat ratings and reviews, right from the home screen</li>
<li>Shopping and Hotel ratings and reviews</li>
<li>Google Street View panoramas</li>
<li>Numerous bug fixes and improvements</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="6" height="136" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_6_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="6" width="217" /> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="7"><img alt="7" height="136" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_7_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="7" width="217" /></a> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="8"><img alt="8" height="136" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_8_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="8" width="217" /></a></div>
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<img alt="9" height="320" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_9_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="9" width="179" /> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="10"><img alt="10" height="320" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_10_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="10" width="179" /></a> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="11"><img alt="11" height="320" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_11_thumb1.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="11" width="179" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The update reportedly makes much better use of Google Maps on 
tablets, but there are some tweaks for phones too. The Street View 
integration includes panoramas of the inside of the establishment, if 
available. There are still some gaps in the data provided by the new 
Zagat, but it's getting better with each update. </div>
<div class="pb-app-box" data-lang="en" data-theme="discover" data-title="Zagat" id="pb_app_box_0" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="pb-app-widget-discover  ">
<div class="pb-app-widget-table">
<div class="pb-wd-icon">
<img alt="Zagat" src="http://d2lh3rxs7crswz.cloudfront.net/com.google.zagat.png" /></div>
<div class="pb-wd-controls">
<div class="pb-wd-data-title ">
Zagat</div>
<div class="pb-wd-data-ratings">
<span class="pb-wd-rating-25">1,209 ratings</span></div>
<div class="pb-wd-data-sup-info">
by <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Google+Inc." target="blank">Google Inc.</a><br />100,000 - 500,000 downloads</div>
 <div class="pb-wd-controls-inst ">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.zagat&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3DPlayboard%26utm_medium%3DWidgetWeb%26utm_campaign%3DPlayboard" target="_blank">Install (FREE)</a></div>
</div>
<div class="pb-wd-footer">
 </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="pvc_count_me217427"></span></div>
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<div class="post_tags" style="text-align: left;">
                  Tags:<a href="http://www.androidpolice.com/tags/app-updates/" rel="tag" title="">app updates</a> <a href="http://www.androidpolice.com/tags/apps/" rel="tag">apps</a> <a href="http://www.androidpolice.com/tags/zagat/" rel="tag" title="">zagat</a>                </div>
</div>

Google Updates Zagat With A New Tablet UI, More Locations, Street View Integration, And More

People didn't always hate Zagat, but Google's new vision for the iconic restaurant review guide has not been widely accepted. ...

C Spire's Galaxy S III Gets Android 4.3 And Galaxy Gear Support Via OTA Update To Software Version L710WWAMK4

adnane 3 News, Samsung, Smartphones February 14, 2014

<ul>
<li>Galaxy Gear Compatibility </li>
<li>Premium Suite Features
</li>
<li>PEN. UP
</li>
<li>Group Play 2.5
</li>
<li>Multi-Window (Note 3 Version)
</li>
<li>Camera - Sound & Shot
</li>
<li>Group Messaging
</li>
<li>Samsung Link Preload
</li>
<li>New Easy Mode
</li>
<li>Samsung Apps</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These features are rolling out under build number<strong> </strong>L710WWAMK4. If it hasn't yet hit your device, just give it a bit. It's on its way.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Source: <a class="external" href="http://www.samsung.com/us/support/SupportOwnersFAQPopup.do?faq_id=FAQ00050073&fm_seq=55045" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Samsung</a></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="pvc_count_me217434"></span></div>
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<div class="post_tags" style="text-align: left;">
                  Tags:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag" title="">Android 4.3</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">Galaxy Gear</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">galaxy s iii</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">ota update</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">Samsung</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">update</a>                </div>
</div>

C Spire's Galaxy S III Gets Android 4.3 And Galaxy Gear Support Via OTA Update To Software Version L710WWAMK4

Galaxy S4s running on the C Spire Wireless network started receiving OTA updates to Android 4.3 a w...

How To Activate An LTE Nexus 7 On Verizon Wireless

adnane 2 Tablets February 14, 2014

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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_IMG_20131211_095045_thumb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_20131211_095045" border="0" height="150" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_IMG_20131211_095045_thumb2.jpg" title="IMG_20131211_095045" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When Google announced the next-generation Nexus 7 back in July,
 the Android enthusiast community rejoiced at the fact that the LTE 
model, while working on AT&T and T-Mobile as expected, also worked 
on Verizon Wireless. This was an enormous step forward in the mobile 
universe because Verizon has the largest network in the United States 
and, at the time of release, had more LTE coverage than AT&T, 
T-Mobile and <a class="external" href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/bg81efolfn26C3849B243ABA6A6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Sprint">Sprint</a>
 combined. The issue was, however, that up until that point Verizon 
would never allow “outside” or “unlocked” devices onto their network.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For background, when Verizon purchased their 700 MHz spectrum during a 2008 FCC auction
 – the spectrum they used to roll out LTE on their network – one of the 
stipulations they were forced to agree to was to allow any device onto 
their network, so long as the device was capable of using that spectrum.
 Because Verizon only uses that 700 MHz spectrum for LTE, they only have
 to allow unlocked devices on the LTE portion of their network. They 
will not, and do not have to, allow unlocked devices on their legacy 
CDMA2000 network. Prior to the Nexus 7 launch, no manufacturer had ever 
tried to release a carrier-free unlocked device that worked on Verizon 
LTE. Because of that, no one was able to properly test whether Verizon 
was prepared to allow unlocked LTE devices. Google’s hope was clearly to
 change that by equipping the second-generation Nexus 7 with Verizon LTE
 compatibility.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Early adopters found out quickly that Verizon was completely 
unprepared to allow unlocked devices onto their network. If you already 
had Verizon service, swapping your existing activated SIM card into your
 Nexus 7 would work with no problem whatsoever. The issue came when you 
needed to activate a brand new line of service
 or needed to get a new SIM card for your existing line (for instance if
 you had a Xoom which took a full-size SIM, but wanted to replace it 
with a Nexus 7, which takes a micro SIM). Here we are 5 months 
post-launch and this is still a problem. It is the goal of this article 
to give you all the information you need to successfully activate a 
Nexus 7 on a new line of service with Verizon Wireless if you choose to.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>What’s the problem?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Every time you bring your own device and want to set up a new line of
 service or need a new SIM card for your existing line, your carrier 
will ask you for your device’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment 
Identifier) number. Every carrier does this, not just Verizon. They do 
this for several reasons: </div>
<ol style="text-align: center;">
<li>To make sure that the device isn’t blacklisted due to it being lost or stolen. </li>
<li>To ensure that the device is compatible with their network. </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Each carrier keeps their own database of IMEI number ranges for 
devices that are known to work with their network. This is the crux of 
the problem with the Nexus 7 on Verizon. Because Verizon does not 
actually sell it, they do not have its IMEI number ranges in their 
database. The only way for a manufacturer, in this case Asus, to get 
their device listed in Verizon’s IMEI database is to go through a network certification process,
 by which Verizon certifies that the device will work on their network. 
Currently, Google and Asus are going through this certification process 
for the Nexus 7, but there’s no indication of when it will be complete. 
In the meantime Verizon will not issue a SIM card to you because they 
don’t recognize the IMEI number of your Nexus 7.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>What will happen if I walk into a Verizon store with a Nexus 7 and attempt to get a data plan and SIM card?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Generally, this is what will happen: </div>
<ol style="text-align: center;">
<li>The store representative will set you up with your new tablet data plan. </li>
<li>The rep will get a SIM card and ask you for the IMEI number of your tablet. </li>
<li>You will read off the IMEI number of your tablet. </li>
<li>The rep will inform you that the IMEI number is showing as invalid, and will tell you that the device cannot be activated. </li>
<li>You walk away pissed off, and immediately go to your closest 
AT&T or T-Mobile store, who will happily activate your device for 
you in 5 minutes. </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>I really want Verizon service, though! Is there anything
 that can be done until Google and Asus finish the certification 
process?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You are in luck, my friends. There is a very simple way of getting 
around the IMEI checks and getting your tablet activated easily. 
Unfortunately, it’ll be very difficult to do it at a Verizon store 
unless you get the rare representative who knows of the Nexus 7 and 
knows what to do to get it activated. Fortunately, reps like this do 
exist. I experienced it personally, and others have reported success 
from reps here and there. For most of you, though, this won’t be the 
case. Here’s what you need to do: </div>
<ol style="text-align: center;">
<li>Go into a Verizon store and find a floor model tablet. It can be
 pretty much any tablet other than an iPad. I recommend any Galaxy Tab 
device. </li>
<li>Go into the tablet’s settings, go to “About Tablet”, then “Status." 
Scroll down until you find the IMEI number. Take a note of it, take a 
picture of it, whatever you have to do. </li>
<li>Go to Verizon’s website and set up a new line of service. When you 
are asked for the IMEI number of your device, enter the IMEI number from
 the floor model tablet. This will pass the “is this certified for 
Verizon’s network” test. </li>
<li>Pick your plan and complete the signup process. </li>
<li>Verizon will send you a SIM card via FedEx. </li>
<li>Once you get the SIM card, go to the online activation system and 
enter the SIM card ID from the SIM card that they sent you, and enter 
the IMEI number of the floor model. </li>
<li>After completing the rest of the online activation process, put the SIM card into your Nexus 7 and reboot it. </li>
<li>When it comes back up, wait a minute or two, and you should be up and running with Verizon service! </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Isn’t this dishonest? What happens if someone buys that floor model tablet down the road? Will they be able to activate it?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is a complete non-issue. IMEI numbers are used for two things; 
they are used to check if the device is stolen and they are matched 
against Verizon’s database to make sure the device is “certified.” The 
minute you put that SIM card into your Nexus 7, the IMEI number 
associated with your SIM card changes from the floor model’s IMEI number
 to the actual IMEI number of your Nexus 7. This can be verified by 
installing the My Verizon app on your tablet, then going into the app 
and noting that your device shows up as “Non-VZW Device.” </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="image" height="400" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_image_thumb22.png" title="image" width="248" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At this stage, the floor model’s IMEI number is completely unattached
 from your SIM card and free to be activated by whoever might end up 
with that floor model down the road. Remember further up the article 
when I said that there are Verizon store reps here and there who can get
 around the IMEI fiasco and activate your Nexus 7 for you? These are the
 exact steps they perform as well. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Are there any “gotchas” or anything that might not work quite right?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately, yes. Since Verizon’s system still isn’t fully set up 
to handle users with devices which they don’t sell, you will encounter 
issues if you ever need to reset your My Verizon password or change your
 plan. The reasons for this are as follows: </div>
<ul style="text-align: center;">
<li>My Verizon: Normally when you reset your password on a My 
Verizon account for a tablet line, it will email you with instructions. 
Because the Nexus 7 is a “non-VZW device,” the system instead assumes 
you have a phone, and will attempt to send a text message to your 
tablet’s phone number. You will never receive this text message because 
the Nexus 7 does not have SMS capabilities. Instead, you’ll most likely 
have to call Verizon customer service or visit a Verizon store and have 
them help you. </li>
<li>Changing your plan: You won’t be able to change your plan online 
because, again, the Nexus 7 is a “non-VZW device.” The system has no 
idea what type of device you have, therefore it has no idea what types 
of plans to offer you. This is something else you’ll have to have 
Verizon customer service or a Verizon store rep help you with. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In addition to these, always keep in mind that Verizon only has 
to allow unlocked devices on the LTE portion of their network. The Nexus
 7 does not include any CDMA2000 capabilities, thus it cannot fall back 
to 3G or 1X data. In practical terms, that means if you leave Verizon's 
LTE coverage area, you will not have data on your tablet. That said, 
when you consider that 95% of Verizon's network is LTE at this point, 
this shouldn't be a problem for most people.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In closing, I do believe this is the best solution if you need to get
 your Nexus 7 activated on a new line of service with Verizon. Once 
Google and Asus complete the certification process, all of this will be a
 complete moot point because Verizon will have the Nexus 7′s IMEI 
numbers in their database. Until then, though, it’s important for you to
 understand that you CAN activate your Nexus 7 on Verizon if you are 
willing to think outside the box. Sure, some features like the ones 
outlined above will be a bit fussy, but that’s the price we pay for 
living in the gray world and bending the rules</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="pvc_count_me216859"></span></div>
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<div class="post_tags" style="text-align: left;">
                  Tags:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">activate</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">lte</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">nexus 7</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">nexus 7 2013</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">tablet</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag" title="">verizon wireless</a>                </div>
</div>

How To Activate An LTE Nexus 7 On Verizon Wireless

When Google announced the next-generation Nexus 7 back in July, the Android enthusiast community r...

Rdio Availability Opens Up To 20 New Countries, Including Israel, South Africa, And Much Of South America

adnane 2 Applications, News February 14, 2014

<ul>
<li>Argentina
</li>
<li>Bolivia
</li>
<li>Costa Rica
</li>
<li>Dominican Republic
</li>
<li>Ecuador
</li>
<li>El Salvador
</li>
<li>Guatemala
</li>
<li>Honduras
</li>
<li>Hungary
</li>
<li>Israel
</li>
<li>Liechtenstein
</li>
<li>Luxembourg
</li>
<li>Monaco
</li>
<li>Nicaragua
</li>
<li>Panama
</li>
<li>Paraguay
</li>
<li>Peru
</li>
<li>South Africa
</li>
<li>Uruguay
</li>
<li>Venezuela</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
An Android app is offered in the Play Store, and though you're free 
to give it a go for a limited time, you will need to pony up for a 
monthly subscription to make extended use of it. So if your country is 
in the list above, congratulations, you too may now take advantage of 
the app in the Play Store below.</div>
<div class="pb-app-box" data-lang="en" data-theme="discover" data-title="Rdio" id="pb_app_box_0" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="pb-app-widget-discover  ">
<div class="pb-app-widget-table">
<div class="pb-wd-icon">
<img alt="Rdio" src="http://d2lh3rxs7crswz.cloudfront.net/com.rdio.android.ui.png" /></div>
<div class="pb-wd-data pb-wd-data">
<div class="pb-wd-data-title ">
Rdio</div>
<div class="pb-wd-data-ratings">
<span class="pb-wd-rating-4">42,274 ratings</span></div>
<div class="pb-wd-data-sup-info">
by <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Rdio" target="blank">Rdio</a><br />5,000,000 - 10,000,000 downloads</div>
<div class="pb-wd-data-appears">
 <a href="http://playboard.me/android/channels/52e0dbbc4dc4545b7d1678ec?ref_host=www.androidpolice.com" target="blank"><br /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="pb-wd-controls">
<div class="pb-wd-controls-inst ">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rdio.android.ui&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3DPlayboard%26utm_medium%3DWidgetWeb%26utm_campaign%3DPlayboard" target="_blank">Install (FREE)</a></div>
</div>
<div class="pb-wd-footer">
 </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em> </em><em><br /></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="pvc_count_me217147"></span></div>
<div class="multi_page_links" style="text-align: center;">
                                </div>
<div class="post_tags" style="text-align: left;">
                  Tags:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">availability</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">international</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">music</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">music streaming</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag">new countries</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="tag" title="">rdio</a>                </div>
</div>

Rdio Availability Opens Up To 20 New Countries, Including Israel, South Africa, And Much Of South America

Spotify made news earlier today by lowering its barrier to entry, allowing users to stream music to their phone or tablets for free. Ye...

Quick Look: Phiaton Chord MS 530 And Fusion MS 430 Headphones

adnane 28 Accessories, reviews February 14, 2014

Quick Look: Phiaton Chord MS 530 And Fusion MS 430 Headphones

This holiday season, I have little doubt that over-the-ear headphones will be a big seller. Among those sold, it's hard to deny th...

Verizon Galaxy S4 Gets JSS15J.I545VRUEMK2 Update That Improves Data Roaming And A Few Other Things

adnane 2 Device Updates, News, Samsung, Smartphones February 14, 2014

Verizon Galaxy S4 Gets JSS15J.I545VRUEMK2 Update That Improves Data Roaming And A Few Other Things

A month after bumping the Galaxy S4 up to Android 4.3, Verizon is rolling out a minor OTA for the flagship that addresses a few roug...

Developer Changelog] Android 4.4.2 (KOT49H), Hides App Ops And Fixes "Flash" SMS Attack

adnane 3 Development, News February 14, 2014

Developer Changelog] Android 4.4.2 (KOT49H), Hides App Ops And Fixes "Flash" SMS Attack

Just hours ago the source code for Android 4.4.2 went live on AOSP, and now we already have our cha...

LG G Flex Review: An Engineering Concept You Can Actually Buy, Not That You Necessarily Should

adnane 9 LG, reviews, Smartphones February 14, 2014

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00290_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="wm_DSC00290" border="0" height="225" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00290_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00290" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
LG G Flex is just like a lot of modern, 
high-end smartphones. It has a fast processor, lots of RAM, a big 
battery, and a large display. Using it isn't particularly different from
 any other Android smartphone. And yet, hand the G Flex to almost 
anyone, and they will immediately notice there is something <em>very</em> different about it, and I'm not talking about the buttons on the back.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The G Flex is one of two phones currently on the market to use a 
flexible OLED panel, the other being Samsung's Galaxy Round. Both phones
 are quite expensive, and apart from their curved displays, neither 
particularly stands out from the crowd. So why on earth would you pay up
 to 50% more for a G Flex than something like a G2 or Galaxy Note 3? 
Isn't this all just a gimmick?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In a way, yes, it is. The G Flex's arced screen isn't going to change your life. Does it have <em>some</em>
 practical benefits? Yes, I suppose. Are they reason enough on their own
 to go out and buy one? No way. The G Flex really is LG saying "look at 
what we can do." It almost feels like a concept device - something 
sketched out by a few engineers late one evening, until the conversation
 around the idea became serious enough that there was a realization: <em>building this</em> <em>is doable</em>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A flexible 6" OLED panel. A curved 3500mAh battery pack. Self-healing
 rear coating. LTE Advanced connectivity. It all sounds very ambitious. 
And ambitious the G Flex is - the technology it serves as test bed to is
 doubtless impressive. Curved batteries could have big implications, and
 a rear cover that un-scratches itself? Almost sci-fi.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately, like a concept car taken out for a test drive, living 
with the G Flex exposes some of its less obvious flaws - the sort of 
things you might not notice when it's up on a little glass-enclosed 
pedestal.</div>
<div class="note" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="noteimportant">
<h5>
LG G Flex: Specifications</h5>
<ul>
<li><strong>Price:</strong> Varies by region (~$930 converted to USD for this Korean variant)
</li>
<li><strong>Processor:</strong> 2.26GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
</li>
<li><strong>GPU:</strong> Adreno 330
</li>
<li><strong>Network compatibility:</strong> Varies (SK Telekom version supports LTE-A)
</li>
<li><strong>Operating system:</strong> Android 4.2.2 with LG UI overlay
</li>
<li><strong>Display:</strong> 6.0" P-OLED 1280x720 (245 DPI)
</li>
<li><strong>Memory:</strong> 2GB RAM / 32GB storage
</li>
<li><strong>Cameras:</strong> 13MP rear, 2.1MP front
</li>
<li><strong>Battery:</strong> 3500mAh, non-removable
</li>
<li><strong>Wireless:</strong> Wi-Fi A/B/G/N/AC (dual band support), NFC, infrared, Bluetooth 4.0
</li>
<li><strong>Ports / expandable storage:</strong> microUSB / none
</li>
<li><strong>Thickness: </strong>8.7mm
</li>
<li><strong>Weight:</strong> 177g </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="note" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="notenote">
<h5>
The Good</h5>
<ul>
<li>The G Flex is a genuinely interesting phone. The curved shape, 
the rear buttons -the power button looks opaque and metallic, but the 
whole thing actually lights up rather awesomely - and the "go ahead, 
scratch my phone / squish it flat " party trick make you feel like 
you're in <em>the future.</em>
</li>
<li>The G Flex is quick and snappy, as it to be expected of a phone using a Snapdragon 800 processor.
</li>
<li>The camera's pretty great.
</li>
<li>Battery life is as good as you'd expect, I've had no problems 
making it through well over a day with the G Flex throughout my testing.
</li>
<li>The big 6" OLED display looks very nice at full brightness, with deep blacks and vivid colors - just don't look too closely. </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="note" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="notewarning">
<h5>
The Not So Good</h5>
<ul>
<li>The display goes from likeable to downright <em>awful</em> once 
you lower the brightness below, say, 50%. Really noticeable graininess /
 discoloration / striping and even image retention get worse the darker 
you go. This new Plastic OLED process apparently has some serious 
drawbacks. It also just doesn't get bright enough outdoors.
</li>
<li>Continuing on, that 6" display is a 720p panel. Yep.
</li>
<li>LG's UI layer is still pretty ugly, in my opinion, and just 
kind of cluttered. Also, a virtual menu button in the navigation bar? 
Please, LG - stop.
</li>
<li>The self-healing rear cover is a crazy-bad dust magnet. I couldn't keep it clean to save my life.
</li>
<li>I still don't like the rear buttons. </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Hardware</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Design and build quality</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is readily apparent that the G Flex is not your average phone when
 it's lying flat on a surface. The curve isn't extreme, but it's 
definitely visible, especially when the display is illuminated. I think 
it looks really cool, personally. It's just so different. The downside, 
of course, is that you get serious rocking motion on flat, hard surfaces
 if you lay your phone down to use it, and with the G Flex being quite 
the handful (177 grams, over 6" tall), that might be a nuisance for 
some. On the upside, laying it face down is pretty unlikely to scratch 
your display, since little or none of it will actually be in contact 
with the surface it's sitting on.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="wm_DSC00320" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00320_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00320" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thankfully, the curve of the G Flex does make it easier to hold with 
one hand. One thing that has always bugged me about the Note line of 
phones is that when I try to palm them, they kind of dig into my hand if
 I hold them for an extended period. The G Flex's shape lets you use 
your fingers for leverage just ever-so-slightly differently than you 
would on a standard flat phone. It's hard to describe the effect, but 
the G Flex is surprisingly comfortable to hold for such a large device.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some people claim the shape also makes typing on the on-screen keyboard easier, but I haven't noticed any such effect.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="wm_DSC00282" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00282_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00282" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As you've no doubt seen by now, the G Flex does indeed live up to its
 name in a limited sense - place it face down on a flat surface and 
press down on the center of the phone, and it'll bend flat. It works. It
 doesn't take a ton of pressure, though it's not super flexible, either.
 You will hear cracks and snaps as the plastic casing creaks in pain 
from the abuse. Considering how many times I've done this since 
receiving my review unit, though, I think it's safe to say the chance of
 actually damaging anything this way (apart from scratching the display)
 is pretty much zero.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because of the curve, the G Flex does feel perhaps a little less 
premium than I'd like. The plastic makes Samsung-esque noises, and the 
glossy self-healing rear cover doesn't exactly feel high-end, either. 
I'd describe it as a slightly more rubbery version of the plastic you'll
 find on the Galaxy S4 - it's more tacky in texture. As a result of said
 texture, the G Flex collects an insane amount of airborne particulate 
matter. Dust, hair, dirt, lint - this thing is a chore to keep clean. 
This may be a non-issue for some people, though it kind of irked me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="0" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00301_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="0" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, about that "self-healing" back. LG's been careful not to go 
promising miracles with its polymer coating (and that's it is - a 
coating, it doesn't go all the way through), but they say scratches from
 things like keys or coins in your pocket will probably heal up enough 
that you won't notice them after a day or two, depending on the ambient 
temperature (warmer temperature = faster healing) and the depth of the 
scratch. I took things a step further and busted out my pocket knife and
 very gently (eg, very little pressure) cut some lines into the back of 
the phone. A week later, they look less apparent than they did right 
after the fact, but they're definitely still there, and I can still feel
 the cuts if I run a fingernail along the back of the phone. Oh well. 
It's still a cool idea, regardless. Maybe later versions will be a 
little thicker-skinned.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="wm_DSC00297" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00297_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00297" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The G Flex has basically identical power / volume button as the G2 
mounted on the back of the phone. Love 'em or hate 'em (I personally 
find myself in the latter camp), LG seems to be running with this idea. 
Even as someone who doesn't like them, I readily admit it's totally 
possible to live with them, they just aren't my first, second, or third 
choice. I'm not sure what my second and third choice would be, but yeah,
 I really don't enjoy these buttons.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="wm_DSC00308" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00308_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00308" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One cool thing LG's done with them on the G Flex, though, is 
increased the visibility of the notification glow on the power button. 
On the G2, the button glows around the edges - the rest of the button is
 opaque. On the G Flex, the whole power button looks opaque and 
metallic, but it's actually not - the entire button lights up when you 
receive a notification! It looks <em>really</em> cool. Kudos to LG on that little trick.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Display</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately, for all the "cool factor" the flexible OLED provides 
in the design department, the display itself is something of a letdown. 
First, it's a 720p panel. A 6" 720p panel. No, that's not <em>horrible</em>
 - it's perfectly usable, much in the way the Galaxy Mega 6.3's 720p 
panel is. It's just not optimal, and it doesn't feel like it's as sharp 
as it could be. So that's kind of a bummer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At full brightness, the screen looks pretty decent. Blacks are deep 
and dark, and LG's screen mode options can make the colors super vivid 
if that's your sort of thing. The colors are definitely a little more 
reminiscent of Samsung's older panels, though, in that even on the most 
conservative color setting they're still awfully saturated.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="wm_DSC00340" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00340_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00340" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Note the graininess - that's not all the camera's fault</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The problems really start to arise when you turn down the brightness 
of the G Flex's display, particularly below 50%. At this point, very 
visible graininess, discoloration, and striping begin to appear. the 
striping is difficult to capture with a camera (they are horizontal 
stripes), but it's definitely present on both of the units I was sent. I
 confirmed with another person reviewing the phone, as well, so it's 
unlikely this is a defect. It's just how the Plastic OLED panel looks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="wm_DSC00268" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00268_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00268" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Worse yet, image retention can be pretty bad when the display isn't 
full warmed up, and is especially noticeable on certain colors like 
grays or whites.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For a phone so focused on the advanced technology behind its screen, 
the screen itself feels like a very real step backwards in some ways.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="wm_DSC00346" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00346_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00346" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>More graininess - particularly, look at the Hangouts and Gallery icons</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Battery Life</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The G Flex's battery life has been admirable throughout my testing - I
 never was below 25% at the end of the day, and regularly found the 
phone with more than 50% if I'd been using Wi-Fi regularly. A 3500mAh 
will certainly do that, I've found, and I've got to hand it to LG for 
not skimping on the lithium ions in their more recent phones. The 
smaller G2 even has a 3000mAh battery, dwarfing those of its biggest 
competitors, aside from the DROID MAXX, by a fair margin.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I generally believe that when it comes to big-screen phones, a big 
battery isn't just necessary to ensure that display keeps on going all 
day long, it's about the whole value proposition of a large phone in the
 first place. If I'm going to carry around something as large as the G 
Flex, I want to know all that extra space inside of it isn't going to 
waste.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="wm_DSC00286" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00286_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00286" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="toc-anchor" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="storage-wireless-and-call-quality"></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Storage, wireless, and call quality</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The G Flex comes with 32GB of internal storage, roughly 24GB of which
 are available to the user out of the box. There is no microSD slot.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Your standard host of wireless features abound in the G Flex - Wi-Fi 
A/B/G/N/AC, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and even an IR blaster (which somewhat 
annoyingly is on the back of the phone, not the top). Mobile network 
support varies by market, but the Korean variant I have here supports 
LTE Advanced networks in its home markets, though the LTE does not 
function stateside on AT&T's network. Presumably if and when the G 
Flex arrives in the US, it will have LTE.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Call quality on the G Flex has been acceptable, though unremarkably -
 I definitely prefer how my Nexus 5 sounds when making a call, and it 
seems like people have an easier time hearing me on the Nexus, too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Audio and speaker</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Headphone audio on the G Flex has been excellent, courtesy of 
Qualcomm's audio hub and headphone amplifier which are part of the 
Snapdragon chipset. The external speaker, though, appears to be the same
 unit on the LG G2 and Nexus 5 - and it's still not very good. I think 
big phones should have big, powerful speakers. The G Flex does not have 
such a speaker. It's relatively quiet, the quality leaves a lot to be 
desired, and while it's adequate for notifications, like the Nexus 5's I
 simply don't enjoy watching videos with it. It just doesn't sound very 
good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Camera</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Apart from the lack of optical image stabilization, the G Flex is 
using the same camera found in the G2, and that's to say a very good 
one. The absent OIS will mean poorer performance in low light or with 
shaky hands, but the imaging unit itself is still capable of some very 
respectable results. Check out the samples below (hill scene is no HDR 
vs with HDR).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="CAM00003" height="300" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_CAM00003_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="CAM00003" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="CAM00006" height="161" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_CAM00006_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="CAM00006" width="215" /> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="CAM00013"><img alt="CAM00013" height="161" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_CAM00013_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="CAM00013" width="215" /></a> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="CAM00015"><img alt="CAM00015" height="161" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_CAM00015_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="CAM00015" width="215" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="CAM00017" height="300" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_CAM00017_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="CAM00017" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Software</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Performance and stability</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This Korean version of the G Flex I've been using is set up for SK 
Telekom, but I've not had any problems other than a lack of LTE support 
here in the US. The Snapdragon 800 chipset runs fast, smooth, and 
handles most tasks with ease. It's basically just like using a G2, and 
potentially even quicker, as the G Flex is pushing a lower resolution 
display.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There haven't been any odd crashes or other strangeness that I've experienced.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
UI and features</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you've read my review of the G2, you know what to expect when it 
comes to the G Flex. There are some minor changes to LG's UI layer, 
though, and I'll go through the ones I've noticed in this section. 
Otherwise, just head to the G2 review
 and read that - not much has changed, at least not enough to warrant a 
brand-new write-up. Here are the new features worth glancing at, though.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Swipeable navigation buttons:</strong> This is an interesting
 one, and I've not seen it on any other phone. The G Flex has an option 
to allow you to push the virtual navigation buttons to the left or right
 extremity of the navigation bar. Just swipe left or right from the edge
 of the screen in the nav bar, and the the buttons will squish up 
against the opposite side. Nice idea, LG. I'm not exactly certain I'd 
use it, but it's novel.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-31" height="84" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-31_thumb.png" style="display: inline;" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-31" width="215" /> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-37"><img alt="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-37" height="84" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-37_thumb.png" style="display: inline;" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-37" width="215" /></a> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-45"><img alt="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-45" height="84" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-45_thumb.png" style="display: inline;" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-46-45" width="215" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Swing lockscreen:</strong> This is LG's rather lame attempt at mimicking Apple's <a class="external" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">equally-useless parallax effect</a>,
 but its intrusiveness is limited to the lockscreen wallpaper. When on 
the lockscreen, tilt the phone up or down (vertically), and the 
wallpaper will slide up and down in an attempt to correspond with your 
motion. The problem is that it works really, really badly. I didn't even
 notice it at first, because the lag between your motion and the 
wallpaper actually moving can be anywhere from 1-3 seconds. It's pretty 
dumb.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Dual screen mode:</strong> LG's decided to copy Samsung's 
Multi Window feature, and they're calling it Dual Screen. Just hold the 
back button and drag two apps onto the top and bottom of the screen, and
 voila - <em>multitasking!</em> If you exit a dual screen instance, just
 hold down back again and the phone will remember it as a "recent" item,
 which is certainly nice.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-01" height="382" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-01_thumb.png" style="display: inline;" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-01" width="215" /> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-20"><img alt="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-20" height="382" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-20_thumb.png" style="display: inline;" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-20" width="215" /></a> <a class="fancybox" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" rel="fancybox" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-37"><img alt="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-37" height="382" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-37_thumb.png" style="display: inline;" title="Screenshot_2013-12-11-13-47-37" width="215" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh, and settings UI is now themed black instead of gray, if you're excited about that sort of thing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Conclusion</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The G Flex is an interesting smartphone science experiment, but it's 
also little more than that. It's mostly identical to the G2 in terms of 
software, which rather quickly made it less than easy to love for me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But it's the oddly underperforming display that really makes the G 
Flex stand out. For a phone so focused on demonstrating new display 
technology, the G Flex can be a real eyesore in certain conditions. It's
 certainly not up to par with the IPS panels the company is producing, 
I'll say that much. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But the G Flex really is just a technological test bed - I can't say 
this is a phone anyone should seriously consider buying, unless they're 
absolutely set on having the first phone with a display curved along the
 Y-axis. Like I said in the introduction of this review, this is LG 
showing us what they can do, not necessarily what they think consumers 
will buy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That all considered, I think the G Flex does make apparent the 
advantages of a curved screen. You're less likely to scratch it, it's 
probably a little more durable, and it does seem to make a large phone 
easier and more comfortable to hold. Once the cost and quality issues 
are ironed out - and I'm confident they will be - I really do believe 
curved displays are something that will catch on. And that's not even 
considering the very real "cool" factor a curved screen brings. I can 
already see the overly dramatic commercials being thought up by 
marketing executives.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Is the G Flex a phone you should buy? Probably not. Is it a concept worth pursuing? I firmly believe so.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="wm_DSC00312" height="266" src="http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nexusae0_wm_DSC00312_thumb.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="wm_DSC00312" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="pvc_count_me216326"></span></div>
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