Nexus 4 Owners Thread - apps, tips & tricks!

DECEiFER

It would seem that the only older device with a radio to get the factory image posted so far is the Nexus 5, and that's probably because it had a beta preview available from just after I/O. So besides that only Wi-Fi tablets have got theirs posted. They're probably working out a few bugs or something before posting the radio devices' images.

user2011

Seen this posted on r/Android

https://plus.google.com/105162099385231511005/posts/9imJjjKynYP

Sascha Prüter21:17+2676Reply

I guess I forgot the #Nexus4 hashtag?

Won't be doing update for a while yet love my xposed too much.

The Black Oil

I'm completely ignorant here on factory images and the like. What happens? Google releases them, then developers pick it up and eventually it goes OTA?

DECEiFER

The Black Oil wrote: »

I'm completely ignorant here on factory images and the like. What happens? Google releases them, then developers pick it up and eventually it goes OTA?

No. Google push out the OTAs to Nexus devices. OEMs like Samsung don't use the Nexus factory images. Android is open source so they use the AOSP code. The factory images are for Nexus owners to flash of their own accord. A fresh install. Think of it like Windows 10 coming out next year. Do I upgrade via an update or do I do a fresh install from an image or disc? Something like that. A fresh install is handy if your phone could use a fresh start or if someone's using a custom ROM/kernel, which won't get an OTA or the OTA will fail if attempted.

dastardly00

Does anyone want a Ringke Fusion case for a Nexus 4?
I've changed phones so I don't need it anymore. Just send me a PM and I can send it on in the post.

Raoul

dastardly00 wrote: »

Does anyone want a Ringke Fusion case for a Nexus 4?
I've changed phones so I don't need it anymore. Just send me a PM and I can send it on in the post.

Yeah I wouldn't mind, my cover is good at the moment but it is pretty heavy. However, it does offer loads of protection and no matter how many times I have dropped it, it won't get damaged (never really dropped it on anything hard). Is the Ringke Fusion really good?

Fresh Pots

If Raoul doesnt want it i'll take it. Drooping my phone every 5 minutes lately.

dastardly00

Raoul was first to reply. Fresh pots is next on the list.

I found the Ringke Fusion case very good. My new phone is a Nexus 5, and I've just bought the Ringke Fusion case for that :pac:

user2011

Wearable Service is it possible to turn this off on the N4, I don't wear my phone I hold it, carry it in my pocket not wear the frigging thing. Pointless service running on my phone using battery.

Slevster

illdoit2morrow wrote: »

Question, will I get Android L OTA if my phone is rooted, running stock Android 4.4.4 but with the Franco Kernel?

no. needs to be stock rom and kernel. I had the franco kernel myself. have flashed the stock kernel again, but the franco kernel may have changed some system settings, so may need to flash the stock rom.
i see on android police site, that lollipop ota seems to be very fussy in that since

DECEiFER

I flashed stock L last night using the factory image and I love it! I find that it's snappy enough, I was afraid that it wouldn't be. To make the most out of it, get the Google Now Launcher from the Play Store as only the Nexus 5 and later have it as standard (phones that originally shipped with it). The crappy 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0 launcher still looms as stock.

I also find that using the new Messenger app by Google for SMS runs smoother when scrolling through the list of threads on L. I do have over 6000 SMS messages stored, however, since I've kept backups since 2011, so it might not have been as bad on phones with much less. For me, it was quite laggy on KitKat, but that could have been just my need to install a fresh stock firmware (not necessarily L). Or maybe it really does run better on L!

Root is sketchy. There are some apps that are broken. Flashing SuperSU 2.16 wasn't having any effect so I used CF-Auto-Root instead and that has flashed it solidly and SuperSU works well enough, but it's not 100% yet from what I can tell. ES File Explorer no longer wants to cooperate as a root explorer (there's a mention of this also on XDA, etc.) so if you need a root file manager, you'll have to look elsewhere (at least in the meantime). I've started using X-plore instead, which seems to work fine in read and write mode on the System partition. The Quick Boot app also requests root access and appears to work until it doesn't and you don't reboot at all. Also, I learned the hard way that using TWRP Recovery 2.8.1.0 to Fix Permissions causes a bootloop. And since I'm a sucker for punishment, I did this not once, but twice, and had to reflash (with a full data wipe to boot, as leaving the data partition did let the device boot but caused a black screen with the status bar icons showing). Luckily I did take a full backup before beginning the entire process so there were no worries, just time wasted (it takes a fúck of a long time - more than I've ever experienced before - to boot for the first time after each flash, and I presume it will be a similar story for the OTA update - so have patience). So stay away from Fix Permissions in your chosen recovery unless you feel daring. Hopefully all this gets sorted sooner, rather than later, if at all, depending on what's been done in L to make messing around with the filesystem and permissions more difficult. Time will tell.

Overall, I'm impressed, and hopefully you all get your update very soon!

bluesfan

Just got it OTA, looks very nice and smooth so far.

Q_Ball

Mine died on Thursday. Got rid of the solid red light and blinking red lights when charging. Now the screen isn't displaying anything. Backlight comes on, can still receive calls but there's nothing on the screen.

Really liked this phone too :-(

DECEiFER

Q_Ball wrote: »

Mine died on Thursday. Got rid of the solid red light and blinking red lights when charging. Now the screen isn't displaying anything. Backlight comes on, can still receive calls but there's nothing on the screen.

Really liked this phone too :-(

Try flashing a factory image. It may be a software issue, but even if not, you won't know until you try.

Q_Ball

DECEiFER wrote: »

Try flashing a factory image. It may be a software issue, but even if not, you won't know until you try.

Thanks, I'll give that a try later. It isn't getting picked up by the laptop though, I think it's a USB driver problem. Will try reinstall from the sdk

DECEiFER

Q_Ball wrote: »

Thanks, I'll give that a try later. It isn't getting picked up by the laptop though, I think it's a USB driver problem. Will try reinstall from the sdk

No problem. Have you tried the standalone driver ZIP from Google? If you continue to have trouble, use another PC (at your next opportunity) to see if it works there before writing it off.

http://developer.android.com/sdk/win-usb.html

The Black Oil

Hurry up, OTA. :pac:

setanta1984

Seems OTA file is available for sideloading now?

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/11/16/flash-all-the-things-lollipop-ota-update-zip-file-roundup/

Think I'll give it a go now

bluesfan

setanta1984 wrote: »

Seems OTA file is available for sideloading now?

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/11/16/flash-all-the-things-lollipop-ota-update-zip-file-roundup/

Think I'll give it a go now

No sideloading needed, got a notification last night that an update was available for download. Been running it today and it's very good so far.

5uspect

I flashed the factory image a couple of days ago.
Its rather nice, very polished.

Oddly enough my Nexus 4 doesn't charge properly from my laptop's USB port anymore. Charges fine from the wall charger and the car however.

robo

bluesfan wrote: »

No sideloading needed, got a notification last night that an update was available for download. Been running it today and it's very good so far.

I've been trying to get mine to automatically get the update, but no joy. Did you do anything to get it to automatically pop up? I just keep checking for updates on mine

Mayo Yid

robo wrote: »

I've been trying to get mine to automatically get the update, but no joy. Did you do anything to get it to automatically pop up? I just keep checking for updates on mine

It's completely random so their servers don't get overloaded

The Black Oil

http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/2mgh8o/nexus_4_lollipop_ota_link_and_update_guide/

I'm attempting this guide. I"m on step 6, not sure how long it'll take. It'll go past 1%, I hope.

Riesen_Meal

The Black Oil wrote: »

http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/2mgh8o/nexus_4_lollipop_ota_link_and_update_guide/

I'm attempting this guide. I"m on step 6, not sure how long it'll take. It'll go past 1%, I hope.

Edit - never actually done it that way - let me know how you get on, says you don't have to be rooted, I assumed you would....

The Black Oil

I'm abandoning it due to lack of knowledge and not wanting to go down any blind alleys.

Q_Ball

DECEiFER wrote: »

No problem. Have you tried the standalone driver ZIP from Google? If you continue to have trouble, use another PC (at your next opportunity) to see if it works there before writing it off.

http://developer.android.com/sdk/win-usb.html

ADB isn't finding the phone. Looks like I need to change some settings but sure the screen isn't working so I can't change anything

bluesfan

robo wrote: »

I've been trying to get mine to automatically get the update, but no joy. Did you do anything to get it to automatically pop up? I just keep checking for updates on mine

I just hit the check for updates every so often and it suddenly appeared.

Fluffy88

There is no need to constantly check the Software updates on your phone, if you do happen to be lucky enough to get the update by manually checking, your only saving at most a few hours.

You basically get 1 chance everyday to get the OTA.
Your phone will automatically check every so often, therefore repeating that check multiple times a day will not change your chances of getting the OTA.
That's not to say that I don't check at least a few times a day this time of year :P

My explanation might be a little off, I got my info from this article, http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/11/20/google-engineer-dan-morrill-sheds-some-light-on-the-nexus-ota-process-urges-you-to-never-clear-google-service-framework-data/ where a Google engineer explains the process. It's a year ago since I read it.

Raoul

Should I leave slimkat and go back to stock to try lollipop? . I presume you lose all your data if you flash stock.

Fresh Pots

Raoul wrote: »

Should I leave slimkat and go back to stock to try lollipop? . I presume you lose all your data if you flash stock.

It will require a full wipe yeah. Depends how curious you are. I wanted to flash it the second it was available but some people are happy to wait. After flashing it I can say, yeah it looks nicer but that's about it. Not really any feature included in it that makes me go wow. I do like how it tells you how long is left til full when charging.

If its not too hard you could always do a full backup of slimkat, test lollipop and decide then.

Haven't noticed any difference on my n4 but it has definitely improved the battery life on my n7 2012.

Raoul

Cheers. I think I will wait. I have been wanting to flash it since it first came out but I just can't be bothered having to set all my stuff up again, especially as my phone is running really really well atm on slimkat.

setanta1984

N4 giving jip lately. Tried manually sideloading the lollipop OTA update, but kept losing connection due to dodgy USB port/cable (Windows only recognises the device using the original cable the phone came with, which appears to be damaged). Gave up as afraid it was bound to disconnect right at the worst moment, waiting for it to appear OTA now.

The power button is starting to get unreliable lately, not recognising presses, or a long delay before registering the press. Sometimes the button stops responding while the screen is off, only way out is to hold down power+vol down to getinto the bootloader and restart from there. The occasional random reboot also.

The LED has stopped working too. Had lightflow installed, uninstalled that when the LED stopped working but makes no difference, still no LED notifications
Hoping the upgrade to 5.0 fixes that...

DECEiFER

5uspect wrote: »

I flashed the factory image a couple of days ago.
Its rather nice, very polished.

Oddly enough my Nexus 4 doesn't charge properly from my laptop's USB port anymore. Charges fine from the wall charger and the car however.

Have you tried another computer? No issues here and I flashed the factory image, too.

Q_Ball wrote: »

ADB isn't finding the phone. Looks like I need to change some settings but sure the screen isn't working so I can't change anything

Nothing in the bootloader (Vol- and Power)? That's where you flash from (not sure if you've ever flashed a Nexus factory image before, so please forgive me if you already know this stuff).

EDIT: Attached "fastboot" in case you need it.

The Black Oil

Got the OTA notification - optimising apps now.

TPD

OTA just finished installing. Notification centre is the most noticeable change I've seen so far.

The Black Oil

Looking at the battery, mine says 76% approx. 2 hours left.

Is that talk time, or..?

keith16

I wonder does the method of clearing the clearing the data on the google framework services thing work?

jonski

No sign of L for my Nexus 4 yet but my 2012 N7 just got it

illdoit2morrow

I'm running lollipop on my Nexus 4 and all is well but I've noticed one thing which I don't know is local to me, a feature or a bug.

When the screen automatically turns itself off after 15 seconds, it appears to 'flash' before going black, has anyone else noticed this on there phone?

jozi

illdoit2morrow wrote: »

I'm running lollipop on my Nexus 4 and all is well but I've noticed one thing which I don't know is local to me, a feature or a bug.

When the screen automatically turns itself off after 15 seconds, it appears to 'flash' before going black, has anyone else noticed this on there phone?

Go into settings and the display, there's a screen animation setting which by the sound of it is set to electron beam. Not a bug if this is it

Gran Hermano

keith16 wrote: »

I wonder does the method of clearing the clearing the data on the google framework services thing work?

Probably would work but it ballsed up the play store and purchases for many people who tried it on previous OTA releases. I used to force it but not worth the risk or bother. It'll arrive for all users and devices over next week or so. Deployment percentages seem to have ramped up over last 48 hours. I'm still waiting on 3 devices to receive it.

I quiet like the new keyboard. Been using it for last week and much prefer it.
You can change to it in advance of the OTA by updating the google keyboard app via Play store. Go into settings, language and input, keyboard, settings and select one of the new material design versions.

Fluffy88

jozi wrote: »

Go into settings and the display, there's a screen animation setting which by the sound of it is set to electron beam. Not a bug if this is it

I'm not seeing this option in Settings > Display
I tried the new settings search feature for "Screen" and "Screen animation" but I can't find it.

jozi

Fluffy88 wrote: »

I'm not seeing this option in Settings > Display
I tried the new settings search feature for "Screen" and "Screen animation" but I can't find it.

Must be a cyanogen thing, haven't got my nexus to hand and thought it might be the same.

If it's like an old tv switching off then its part of the os.

darraghn

Got the OTA update last night. Installation was painless - took about 30 mins. Liking Lollopop so far - nice aesthetics but more importantly - to my eyes - faster than 4.4 - could be just the placebo effect though

Fluffy88

jozi wrote: »

Must be a cyanogen thing, haven't got my nexus to hand and thought it might be the same.

If it's like an old tv switching off then its part of the os.

I was thinking it might have been something from a custom ROM.

The KitKat effect was that of an old TV turning off, which surprisingly almost everyone loved.
The Lollipop effect seems to be a very fast fade to black. To my eye the screen goes black and white, to a subtle flash of white, to black. Or something along those lines.
I guess that's what illdoit2morrow was noticing.

When I saw your post I thought maybe we had the option to go back to the old TV style.

illdoit2morrow

Fluffy88 wrote: »

I was thinking it might have been something from a custom ROM.

The KitKat effect was that of an old TV turning off, which surprisingly almost everyone loved.
The Lollipop effect seems to be a very fast fade to black. To my eye the screen goes black and white, to a subtle flash of white, to black. Or something along those lines.
I guess that's what illdoit2morrow was noticing.

When I saw your post I thought maybe we had the option to go back to the old TV style.

Yeah that's what is happening. Once I'm not the only one its fine, I thought it might be something dodgy on my handset, but it appears not.

A Neurotic

Lots of people commenting on Lollipop improving speed/performance (I find this confusing as my phone has never been laggy in the slightest) but what's the impact on battery life like? I'll be looking to upgrade soon unless Lollipop significantly improves battery life.

MayoForSam

A Neurotic wrote: »

Lots of people commenting on Lollipop improving speed/performance (I find this confusing as my phone has never been laggy in the slightest) but what's the impact on battery life like? I'll be looking to upgrade soon unless Lollipop significantly improves battery life.

I upgraded my Nexus 4 using Wugfresh and the Lollipop build downloaded direct from Google.

My battery life has definitely improved, previously was using Cyanogenmod and I would be lucky to get 12 hours out of the phone. Now I seem to getting 18 hours plus with moderate usage. My Nexus 4 had been granted a stay of execution for a few more months it would seem.

Overall impressions for me are very favorable, very slick and smooth. Not missing Cyanogenmod at all.

Slevster

Hi.

Have a question for those who have up graded to lollipop. Flashed the factory lollipop image the other day. Was looking at the battery use, and was surprised to see that Chrome was the biggest draw on the battery, more than the screen @17%. When I selected it (in the battery stat thingie) I see that "mobile radio active" is showing 1hr 45mins of use. So I uninstall chrome, and the battery stat shows that the mobile standby is the biggest draw again with the mobile radio being active.
I didn't come across this in KitKat. The screen was always the biggest use.
So , in lollipop, what are you finding are the biggest draws on your batteries? ( anything different/unusual?)




(Edit , a little googling, tells me that mobile signal quality/strength could be the cause the mobile radio battery draw . could be coincidence, or just that the screen is a bit more efficient now, hense making other draws more prominent, as my battery life is no worse than on KitKat.)

Slevster

sugarman wrote: »

Seems be sucking the life out of my battery since upgrading, averaging 4hrs. When I get battery low warning at 14℅ it goes within 10mins, on KitKat I could get an hour or so.

Might flash back and do a comparison.

Is that 4hrs in total? From full to empty. That ain't too good.