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Nexus 4 |OT| Quality for everyone

Akito

Member
Got the OTA update and everything seems fine but I notice a weird "bug", sometime when I reboot the phone, I will get the transparent navigation bar using the GEL launcher but as soon as I do anything on the phone like switching to another homescreen or open the app drawer, it will revert back to being black again.

BZpCIrvIQAE7Mxg.png:large


It looks so good, I would even consider ditching Nova Launcher if the transparent nav bar is a permanent thing.
 

Husker86

Member
Got the OTA update and everything seems fine but I notice a weird "bug", sometime when I reboot the phone, I will get the transparent navigation bar using the GEL launcher but as soon as I do anything on the phone like switching to another homescreen or open the app drawer, it will revert back to being black again.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BZpCIrvIQAE7Mxg.png:large[/IMG

It looks so good, I would even consider ditching Nova Launcher if the transparent nav bar is a permanent thing.[/QUOTE]

Install the apk at the bottom of [URL="http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/11/13/how-to-try-the-google-experience-launcher-with-translucent-bars-and-google-now-once-you-get-your-kitkat-update-apk-download/"]this article [/URL] and you will have the new launcher. Assuming your Google Search app is up to date.
 

Husker86

Member
That's the GEL I'm running.

Oh...hmm. I honestly don't know how to remedy that. Maybe try uninstalling Google Search updates and then re-updating? Re-install the launcher apk afterwards?

Very strange.

I don't have my Nexus 4 with me right now, but is GEL listed in Applications where you can clear data or something?
 

Akito

Member
Oh...hmm. I honestly don't know how to remedy that. Maybe try uninstalling Google Search updates and then re-updating? Re-install the launcher apk afterwards?

Very strange.

I don't have my Nexus 4 with me right now, but is GEL listed in Applications where you can clear data or something?
Just to be clear, is the navigation bar supposed to be transparent on the N4 with the latest Google Search + GEL? I thought it's black because GEL is still not officially available for non N5 devices?
 

Nicktendo86

Member
Just to be clear, is the navigation bar supposed to be transparent on the N4 with the latest Google Search + GEL? I thought it's black because GEL is still not officially available for non N5 devices?

Yes it is supposed to be transparent, except on the lock screen.
 

skybaby

Member
Oh my God why does chrome reload at every corner on kitkat. Even with just one tab, going to the launcher and back it reloads, I can predict this will drive me nuts
 

Husker86

Member
Just to be clear, is the navigation bar supposed to be transparent on the N4 with the latest Google Search + GEL? I thought it's black because GEL is still not officially available for non N5 devices?

Yeah, on both my N7 and N4 it's transparent nav and status bar.
 

Akito

Member
Yes it is supposed to be transparent, except on the lock screen.

Yeah, on both my N7 and N4 it's transparent nav and status bar.
That's really weird, I've tried everything, un- and installing Google Search update, the GEL and the Nova Launcher beta in various order but the transparent nav bar just doesn't want to stay :(
I suspect that some random app is causing this because I'm running stock 4.4 (albeit rooted) but I don't want to investigate every single one of them.
 

Rengoku

Member
Woohoo! Android 4.4 build KRT16S finally fixed my battery life issues. The previous Kitkat build used to chew through my battery like nothing, I'd lose like 30% overnight.
 

Soodanim

Member
Updated and grabbed GEL from xda, thanks for the links guys. I don't even mind the 4x5 app drawer layout, because the transparency is sexy. Of course I may just go back to Nova/Apex and use the beta for the best of both worlds, but I quite like Google Now being one swipe away, even if I never use it.

I've never been able to use the "Ok Google" type voice activation, and I've never figured out why. I'm in the UK if that matters, and I haven't rooted.
 

Nicktendo86

Member
Updated and grabbed GEL from xda, thanks for the links guys. I don't even mind the 4x5 app drawer layout, because the transparency is sexy. Of course I may just go back to Nova/Apex and use the beta for the best of both worlds, but I quite like Google Now being one swipe away, even if I never use it.

I've never been able to use the "Ok Google" type voice activation, and I've never figured out why. I'm in the UK if that matters, and I haven't rooted.
You need to set the Google now language to US English.
 
Did they remove the network activity indicators in KitKat? You used to see flashing arrows if there's network access over WiFi or mobile data.
 
Did they remove the network activity indicators in KitKat? You used to see flashing arrows if there's network access over WiFi or mobile data.

It's in the pull down notification menu now. You can see it only there.

The reason being it's too confusing for users. As is battery percentage. And GEL for Nexus 4/7/10 users.

Woohoo! Android 4.4 build KRT16S finally fixed my battery life issues. The previous Kitkat build used to chew through my battery like nothing, I'd lose like 30% overnight.
So far it's really much better for me too, especially the idle drain.
 
My NEXUS 4 is bricked because of GOOGLE.

I got an OTA notification to update my OS to Android 4.4. It downloaded and installed, then failed. Now it has a picture of the bot with "No Command"

Thanks Google and now I have no idea how to fix it or who to talk to with your shitty support.
 

Threi

notag
My NEXUS 4 is bricked because of GOOGLE.

I got an OTA notification to update my OS to Android 4.4. It downloaded and installed, then failed. Now it has a picture of the bot with "No Command"

Thanks Google and now I have no idea how to fix it or who to talk to with your shitty support.
were you rooted?
 

Horseticuffs

Full werewolf off the buckle
My nexus 4 and 2012 nexus 7 both keep reverting back to stock keyboard since I updated. I guess it's not too bad because it's a lot better than I remember and now I'm not entirely certain why I switched to swiftkey anymore.

Oddly enough I can no longer use "OK Google" anymore in Google now. Previously I'd manually updated the apk so that I could and now it doesn't work at all.

Is there ANY way to add auto-capitalization to the stock keyboard? I'm having no luck finding it, if so.
 

Soodanim

Member
My nexus 4 and 2012 nexus 7 both keep reverting back to stock keyboard since I updated. I guess it's not too bad because it's a lot better than I remember and now I'm not entirely certain why I switched to swiftkey anymore.

Oddly enough I can no longer use "OK Google" anymore in Google now. Previously I'd manually updated the apk so that I could and now it doesn't work at all.

Is there ANY way to add auto-capitalization to the stock keyboard? I'm having no luck finding it, if so.
I can't remember if it was before or after 4.4, but SwiftKey stopped capitalising and Swype started being laggy as fuck, so Google keyboard reigns supreme on my phone these days. I just switched my Google Now voice input to US English (thanks Nicktendo86) and OK Google works, double check the language setting under Voice in settings.
 

Horseticuffs

Full werewolf off the buckle
I can't remember if it was before or after 4.4, but SwiftKey stopped capitalising and Swype started being laggy as fuck, so Google keyboard reigns supreme on my phone these days. I just switched my Google Now voice input to US English (thanks Nicktendo86) and OK Google works, double check the language setting under Voice in settings.

Hey, thanks. I switched back to SwiftKey due to lack of capitalization and being used to the layout. Hopefully it'll stay as default now!


Also this fixed my "OK Google" shrine) settings even though I changed nothing. Just selecting them again worked.
 
My NEXUS 4 is bricked because of GOOGLE.

I got an OTA notification to update my OS to Android 4.4. It downloaded and installed, then failed. Now it has a picture of the bot with "No Command"

Thanks Google and now I have no idea how to fix it or who to talk to with your shitty support.

That's recovery mode. All you had to do was press and hold the power button, then quickly press up to open the menu, and you could reboot. You really wiped your phone?
 
I forced 4.4 last night using the Google Framework trick and everything looks good. The phone definitely feels a little bit zippier now. One thing that I did have to do was to replace my phone shortcut. It kept saying "app not found" when I would hit it. Some googling revealed that the solution was to trash the current shortcut and to make a new one. Worked like a charm.
 

Groof

Junior Member
I forced 4.4 last night using the Google Framework trick and everything looks good. The phone definitely feels a little bit zippier now. One thing that I did have to do was to replace my phone shortcut. It kept saying "app not found" when I would hit it. Some googling revealed that the solution was to trash the current shortcut and to make a new one. Worked like a charm.
That usually happens when they change a system app file name. Old shortcut leads to the old name which no longer exists.
Also, don't do the framework trick.
 
That usually happens when they change a system app file name. Old shortcut leads to the old name which no longer exists.
Also, don't do the framework trick.

I did the framework trick last two updates and on the last one I had to delete and re-enter my google account. Then everything was fine. I didn't want to do it this round but my phone kept crashing and failing to load apps so I needed to update or re-install 4.3.
 

ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
I always did the framework trick and it almost always worked, however I'm pretty sure it messed up Google Voice on my Galaxy Nexus to the point that no matter what I tried I didn't get push notifications for texts anymore, and it also slightly messed up Google Now for a while on my Nexus 7 2013. So I'm not going to do it anymore, I mean especially now that both of my Android devices are pure Nexuses there's really no reason to.
 

Groof

Junior Member
The framework trick is known to break sync and a bunch of other Googly stuff, so it's been time and time again recommended to not do it because there's usually very little gain to it. Doing it to get an OTA is silly if the OTA zip is already out in the wild and available for easy flashing.
 
That's recovery mode. All you had to do was press and hold the power button, then quickly press up to open the menu, and you could reboot. You really wiped your phone?
My phone was on a boot loop. I called Google support and ran through their conventional troubleshooting tactics, nothing worked.
 
The framework trick is known to break sync and a bunch of other Googly stuff, so it's been time and time again recommended to not do it because there's usually very little gain to it. Doing it to get an OTA is silly if the OTA zip is already out in the wild and available for easy flashing.

Everything's working fine and I didn't feel like going through the hassle of downloading the zip.
 

Ran Echelon

Neo Member
So I got a Slimport>HDMI adapter for my Nexus 4. It works but the image is kinda fuzzy as it's just mirroring the phone's screen resolution. Is there any way to force a higher output resolution?
 
Just bought my brother's Nexus 4 16 GB for $150, including case, box, charger, and screen protector. And thus, I've entered the world of smartphones (was running an old Kin OneM before this). Switched from being an additional line on my parent's VZW plan to my own $30/mo T-Mobile plan.

So far, enjoying the shit out of the phone and Android in general (which I'd only used modestly with my hacked HP Touchpad). Update to 4.4.2 just now and that went very smoothly. Got a small assortment of free apps I'm enjoying.

Sorry, this post has no real point I guess except to say I'm excited.
 

Nicktendo86

Member
Just bought my brother's Nexus 4 16 GB for $150, including case, box, charger, and screen protector. And thus, I've entered the world of smartphones (was running an old Kin OneM before this). Switched from being an additional line on my parent's VZW plan to my own $30/mo T-Mobile plan.

So far, enjoying the shit out of the phone and Android in general (which I'd only used modestly with my hacked HP Touchpad). Update to 4.4.2 just now and that went very smoothly. Got a small assortment of free apps I'm enjoying.

Sorry, this post has no real point I guess except to say I'm excited.
Welcome to the club!
 

Emwitus

Member
Nope, in the launcher as well, somehow I only had a transparent notification bar after 4.4 (never got 4.4.1), see my posts at the start of the page.
Ahh you sideloaded the gel launcher. That makes sense
You need to install a new launcher to get the transparent nav and status bars such as nova launver or the new Google experience launcher, or gel.

Thanks for the heads up bud
 
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