This is a common misconception of "lag". There is a perceived lag in everything you own once you become familiar with it. When something is new there's a natural tendency to be much more patient as you learn the ins and outs. Once you master it, you're more likely to "run" into something that's not getting out of the way faster than you expect or want it to.
I have an original iPad and it still runs fairly well, but it sure feels slow. Slower than I remember, but the fact is, I can't remember how slow it ran when I originally got it and there's nothing to compare it with. Instead what happened is I started comparing it to how fast stuff worked on my newer iPhones. And it really does seem like the iPad has gotten slower and slower with each new iPhone I've purchased.
A more extreme example... When I got my Mac SE, it was the greatest computer I ever owned, not once did I ever notice any kind of lag. I boot that sucker up today and I can't believe I was able to get anything done on it!? It is ridiculously slow compared to today's computers, but it still runs exactly as it did then.
I'm a software architect and also used to develop android apps in the past 2 years.
I'd like to point out a few things regarding these "mysterious" failures.
First of all, the reports are valid and affect a lot of Nexus 7 tablets and also a percentage of Galaxy Nexus devices built around 8/2012 to 11/2012.
However, this is usually not due to cheap or defective flash memory (from Samsung) but instead a bug in Samsungs flash controller firmware.
There are 2 known bugs - one actually could brick devices by overwriting protected blocks but allegedly has been addressed by Samsung - the other is frequently called "trim bug".
It begins to emerge if you fill your device up to a certain amount of free memory (roughly less than 3GB free). When the flash is low on blocks marked as "free", it starts looking for sections marked as "deleted".
The mentioned bug in their firmware causes that specific subroutine to run unusually slow and can lock up the whole device for several seconds.
Google rolled out an update for the Nexus 7 with Android 4.1.2 which doesn't fix the bug but avoids triggering it by actually removing data instead of marking it as "deleted" - so the controller is never running out of free blocks.
Unfortunately this doesn't help people already affected by the lags as afaik there's never been a "zeroing" of deleted blocks in the installation routine of the update.
Google also still hasn't included this fix in any of their Galaxy Nexus updates, which is quite questionable regarding numerous complaints in the google product forums.
I assume many devices out there and probably even Apple devices have this disfunctional controller if they are using Samsung flash built between 8/12 and 11/12.
However, this might never emerge as it's a combination of kernel fs module + flash controller firmware behaviour.
In case you have a Nexus 7 or Galaxy Nexus affected by serious performance degradation, I'd suggest the following:
1.) Verify the issue
Download AndroBench and run it, if your "Random Write Speed" is below 0,20mb/s, you're probably affected.
2a.) Resolve the issue on a Nexus 7
Make sure you are on Android 4.2.2.
Wiping does not help, instead fill your device completly with data and afterwards remove it again to "free" the flash blocks.
After a reboot the performance (AndroBench) should show better "Random Write Speeds".
2b.) Resolve the issue on a Galaxy Nexus
No easy solution known, but this is known to work well (I have 2 GNex, one affected and this suggestion did the trick):
I also owned a Samsung Galaxy s3. It seems like every Android device deteriorates in performance after a while,
I owned and used an S3 for months. Just a terrible, terrible experience. Honestly, my original iPhone (bought in 2007) was performing better than the S3. I really could not fathom how people were even comparing Android to iOS (about the only thing that was good on it was being able to make Whatsapp my default messaging service and quick controls to turn on/off some settings).
However, since the S3 was a hand down from my dad (he used it a few months and gave it to me after I lost my 4S) it had just degraded horribly like you mention.
I do think it is an outrage that Tech folks keep trumpeting an Android device as an equal of iPhone without ever mentioning the terrible state of software upgrades, never mins these apparent widespread hardware issues (which are not as well known).
Glad I got an iPhone 4 to replace the S3 on the cheap.
Scientists should conduct a study of the minds of cheapskates and figure out what leads these people to constantly make bad decisions and poor choices. Many serial killers have abnormal brains. What makes a Fandroid's brain tick, and are there any abnormalities present there also?
These cheapskates think that they're saving a buck, but their scrooge like behavior actually ends up costing them a whole lot more in the long run.
If I were a financially challenged individual, the last thing that I would buy is any kind of Android tablet. I'd rather wait a bit, save up some money, and get an awesome iPad, which I know will last me many years and will function great the whole time.
I also don't think that any Android tablet purchaser has a right to complain really, because you basically got what you paid for.
Scientists should conduct a study of the minds of cheapskates and figure out what leads these people to constantly make bad decisions and poor choices. Many serial killers have abnormal brains. What makes a Fandroid's brain tick, and are there any abnormalities present there also?
These cheapskates think that they're saving a buck, but their scrooge like behavior actually ends up costing them a whole lot more in the long run.
If I were a financially challenged individual, the last thing that I would buy is any kind of Android tablet. I'd rather wait a bit, save up some money, and get an awesome iPad, which I know will last me many years and will function great the whole time.
I also don't think that any Android tablet purchaser has a right to complain really, because you basically got what you paid for.
This is the first I've heard of any type of widespread early failure for the Nexus 7. Interesting that it's coming from an Apple site. I've had a nexus 7 since very shortly after the launch and have never had any problem with it.
It's not "coming from an Apple site." Had you made it to the second paragraph, you'd see it was an Android fan writing about the issue on an Android fan site, and there are lots of Android users commenting in commiseration.
No doubt some percentage of users have problems with their Nexus 7. I doubt its made up. But just as some here are quick to point out that a few thousand complaints about WiFi on an Apple device hardly makes the problem widespread, a hundred reports of Nexus 7 problems doesn't mean most.
Mine gets daily use as a rule and does just fine for its intended purpose. News, magazines, e-mail, and things like dictating this post
No doubt some percentage of users have problems with their Nexus 7. I doubt its made up. But just as some here are quick to point out that a few thousand complaints about WiFi on an Apple device hardly makes the problem widespread, a hundred reports of Nexus 7 problems doesn't mean most.
Mine gets daily use as a rule and does just fine for its intended purpose. News, magazines, e-mail, and things like dictating this post
Comments
Read the friggin article you are commenting on...he quotes directly from Android sites...sheesh...
OK...whatever..this is real obvious lag.
Type "Androidandme" the site cited in the article into Google and you get this;
http://androidandme.com/2013/06/opinions/one-year-later-the-nexus-7-has-gone-from-the-best-to-worst-tablet-ive-ever-owned/
Originally Posted by MacBook Pro
Who fixes Nexus 7 other than a fly-by-night repair shop?
Just take it on down to the Google Store in your local mall. The Google Gurus will take care of you.
Either I thought it was someone else or I meant DED hate.
Hi,
I'm a software architect and also used to develop android apps in the past 2 years.
I'd like to point out a few things regarding these "mysterious" failures.
First of all, the reports are valid and affect a lot of Nexus 7 tablets and also a percentage of Galaxy Nexus devices built around 8/2012 to 11/2012.
However, this is usually not due to cheap or defective flash memory (from Samsung) but instead a bug in Samsungs flash controller firmware.
There are 2 known bugs - one actually could brick devices by overwriting protected blocks but allegedly has been addressed by Samsung - the other is frequently called "trim bug".
It begins to emerge if you fill your device up to a certain amount of free memory (roughly less than 3GB free). When the flash is low on blocks marked as "free", it starts looking for sections marked as "deleted".
The mentioned bug in their firmware causes that specific subroutine to run unusually slow and can lock up the whole device for several seconds.
Google rolled out an update for the Nexus 7 with Android 4.1.2 which doesn't fix the bug but avoids triggering it by actually removing data instead of marking it as "deleted" - so the controller is never running out of free blocks.
Unfortunately this doesn't help people already affected by the lags as afaik there's never been a "zeroing" of deleted blocks in the installation routine of the update.
Google also still hasn't included this fix in any of their Galaxy Nexus updates, which is quite questionable regarding numerous complaints in the google product forums.
I assume many devices out there and probably even Apple devices have this disfunctional controller if they are using Samsung flash built between 8/12 and 11/12.
However, this might never emerge as it's a combination of kernel fs module + flash controller firmware behaviour.
In case you have a Nexus 7 or Galaxy Nexus affected by serious performance degradation, I'd suggest the following:
1.) Verify the issue
Download AndroBench and run it, if your "Random Write Speed" is below 0,20mb/s, you're probably affected.
2a.) Resolve the issue on a Nexus 7
Make sure you are on Android 4.2.2.
Wiping does not help, instead fill your device completly with data and afterwards remove it again to "free" the flash blocks.
After a reboot the performance (AndroBench) should show better "Random Write Speeds".
2b.) Resolve the issue on a Galaxy Nexus
No easy solution known, but this is known to work well (I have 2 GNex, one affected and this suggestion did the trick):
https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=41061#c40
If this didn't help, please check if userdata is mounted with the "discard" option.
To do so, install and start "Terminal Emulator", type "mount" and press enter.
If the line with /data doesn't have "discard" appended in the options, Google probably screwed up their fix by missing some device serials affected.
In that case, this solution also works on Nexus 7: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=41061#c40
[Source #1: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=39154]
[Source #2: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=41061]
[Statement from Google employee on the Nexus 7 issue: https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!searchin/mobile/slow$20nexus/mobile/loqbCbKVMWE/5rC-GykZo0YJ]
I owned and used an S3 for months. Just a terrible, terrible experience. Honestly, my original iPhone (bought in 2007) was performing better than the S3. I really could not fathom how people were even comparing Android to iOS (about the only thing that was good on it was being able to make Whatsapp my default messaging service and quick controls to turn on/off some settings).
However, since the S3 was a hand down from my dad (he used it a few months and gave it to me after I lost my 4S) it had just degraded horribly like you mention.
I do think it is an outrage that Tech folks keep trumpeting an Android device as an equal of iPhone without ever mentioning the terrible state of software upgrades, never mins these apparent widespread hardware issues (which are not as well known).
Glad I got an iPhone 4 to replace the S3 on the cheap.
Scientists should conduct a study of the minds of cheapskates and figure out what leads these people to constantly make bad decisions and poor choices. Many serial killers have abnormal brains. What makes a Fandroid's brain tick, and are there any abnormalities present there also?
These cheapskates think that they're saving a buck, but their scrooge like behavior actually ends up costing them a whole lot more in the long run.
If I were a financially challenged individual, the last thing that I would buy is any kind of Android tablet. I'd rather wait a bit, save up some money, and get an awesome iPad, which I know will last me many years and will function great the whole time.
I also don't think that any Android tablet purchaser has a right to complain really, because you basically got what you paid for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple ][
Scientists should conduct a study of the minds of cheapskates and figure out what leads these people to constantly make bad decisions and poor choices. Many serial killers have abnormal brains. What makes a Fandroid's brain tick, and are there any abnormalities present there also?
These cheapskates think that they're saving a buck, but their scrooge like behavior actually ends up costing them a whole lot more in the long run.
If I were a financially challenged individual, the last thing that I would buy is any kind of Android tablet. I'd rather wait a bit, save up some money, and get an awesome iPad, which I know will last me many years and will function great the whole time.
I also don't think that any Android tablet purchaser has a right to complain really, because you basically got what you paid for.
Wallmart has made billions from cheapskates.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo42
This is the first I've heard of any type of widespread early failure for the Nexus 7. Interesting that it's coming from an Apple site. I've had a nexus 7 since very shortly after the launch and have never had any problem with it.
It's not "coming from an Apple site." Had you made it to the second paragraph, you'd see it was an Android fan writing about the issue on an Android fan site, and there are lots of Android users commenting in commiseration.
Quote:
Originally Posted by island hermit
Wallmart has made billions from cheapskates.
I have no problems with Walmart. Not everything that they sell is junk.
I recently bought a $100 iTunes gift card from Walmart (online, there are no Walmarts in my neck of the woods), and only paid $80 for it.
Mine gets daily use as a rule and does just fine for its intended purpose. News, magazines, e-mail, and things like dictating this post
Watch out!
John Smith2 = Tallest Skil
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Smith2
Might as well say its a good disposable $200 tablet.
Hello, Tallest Skil...
Quote:
Originally Posted by ealvarez
My iPad 2 still works perfectly
My iPad 1 still works perfectly. Daily use. Old iOS, but perfect for what I need (or, should say, my Wife's needs).
Quote:
Originally Posted by TS Buster 1
Watch out!
John Smith2 = Tallest Skil
TS Buster 1??!!??
Just when I thought I'd seen everything on this site.
lol
"High quality flash memory can provide a significantly longer lifespan than cheaper versions, but it also costs more."
Gatorguy jumps in to defend Google!
I don't recall too many of these posts for Apple!