I've had a 2012 Nexus 7 Wi-Fi since early 2013. It came with 4.1.2 JZO54K Jellybean. I've loved the size and the access to the latest version of Android. I dropped it late in 2013 and replaced the screen myself.
The Android journey has been long. Along he way I upgraded it from 4.1.2 to 4.2.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 4.4.4, 5.0 5.0.2, 5.1.0, and 5.1.1.
This was hard on the Nexus 7. The Internet is full of bad experiences of updating the 2012 Nexus 7 to Lollipop. My experience was pretty much aligned with these.
The Nexus 7 would just crawl. It especially seemed to be slow if you tried to do anything while you were letting the Google Play Store update apps. Once it got slow there was no fixing it. Rebooting didn't help.
But after my experience with adb on my Nexus 5 I got brave enough to reflash the Nexus 7 with 5.1.1 LMY47V.
That process was similarly complicated as the Nexus 5 process. At one point the screen displayed "REBOOT FAILURE." And when it finally came up it was sluggish for several hours.
But the result was well worth it. The Nexus 7 is working fine. Sure it's not as fast as a new Android tablet but its performance is consistently Ok. Not bad for an almost 4 year old tablet.
I left the bootloader unlocked so I'm watching for CyanogenMod to drop Marshmallow.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Google Photos Public Gallery
So there isn't a Google Photos Public Gallery, you say? Well, there is, Kinda. But you have to access it via Picasaweb.
This continues my rant about apparently deprecated functions from Picasaweb to Google Photos.
When you first login to Picasaweb you have to create your Google Profile. You used to have to do this to use much of Google but that has generally been eliminated. However this seems to be the key to having a public gallery of photos.
Once you create your Google Profile you are able to go to Picasaweb. You probably want to click on "View All" to see all your albums (collections?).
Now you can see all of your Google Photos albums.
To put one of these in a public gallery click on the album thumbnail and then choose "Album properties" from the "Actions" dropdown.
Under "Visibility" choose "Public on the web" and click on "Save". Realize that you just put all your photos "Public on the web."
You're halfway there.
Go back to Picasaweb and click on "My Photos" and then click on "Public Gallery".
Now copy that URL.
That's the URL of your public gallery.
You're done.
Unfortunately that doesn't present in the Google Photos UI. Honestly that's a mixed blessing.
Update: If you're interested in this you'd better hurry.
This continues my rant about apparently deprecated functions from Picasaweb to Google Photos.
When you first login to Picasaweb you have to create your Google Profile. You used to have to do this to use much of Google but that has generally been eliminated. However this seems to be the key to having a public gallery of photos.
Once you create your Google Profile you are able to go to Picasaweb. You probably want to click on "View All" to see all your albums (collections?).
Now you can see all of your Google Photos albums.
To put one of these in a public gallery click on the album thumbnail and then choose "Album properties" from the "Actions" dropdown.
Under "Visibility" choose "Public on the web" and click on "Save". Realize that you just put all your photos "Public on the web."
You're halfway there.
Go back to Picasaweb and click on "My Photos" and then click on "Public Gallery".
Now copy that URL.
That's the URL of your public gallery.
You're done.
Unfortunately that doesn't present in the Google Photos UI. Honestly that's a mixed blessing.
Update: If you're interested in this you'd better hurry.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
I Don't Understand
I just upgraded my everyday laptop to Windows 10 version 1511. It went well but I still don't understand why Windows Update is so non-transparent.
I don't ask for much. Just to not get "This page doesn't exist."
I don't ask for much. Just to not get "This page doesn't exist."
Sunday, February 07, 2016
Dropbox vs Bluetooth vs Google Photos
There are so many good choices for automatically storing images from your smartphone. I've been using a couple of them and wanted to review the resulting images and metadata.
On my Nexus I have Dropbox and Google Photos both set to automatically upload images when I'm on Wi-Fi. When I want to "archive" a photo, I transfer it from my smartphone to my laptop using Bluetooth.
Here are the actual images:
To my untrained eye, the images are visually indistinguishable.
But the files are different. Here're the details as I observed. (complete data at the end of the post)
File Names
Dropbox: 2015-12-16 16.12.47.jpg
Bluetooth: IMG_20151216_161246.jpg
Google Photos: IMG_20151216_161246.jpg
Notice that not only does Dropbox rename the file but the implied date/time is different than the other methods.
File Size:
Dropbox: 2,623,643
Bluetooth: 2,623,643
Google Photos: 1,557,928
This is using Google Photos "Upload size" set to "High quality", not "Original". In this test Google further compressed the image by 40%.
The other characteristics and metadata are all the same as far as I can tell.
So what am I going to change?
Nothing, yet.
For me each of these tools have different use cases.
For Dropbox, I really like having my images automatically stored in a Windows file system. There's probably some method to accomplish this with Google Photos but it doesn't just jump out at me. I really don't like that Dropbox renames the files.
Bluetooth is clearly the geek's solution. I only use this method when I want to preserve a high quality image. The file system target for the Bluetooth upload varies by whether the file is an image or a video. I probably could change that.
Google Photos is the slickest tool. It's fast and easy to manage. Using "High quality" (which really isn't high quality) is free. I wish that Google wouldn't recompress the images when they fall below 16 megapixels. Since my camera is 8 megapixels I tried changing the "Upload size" to "Original" and sending the image again. I had the same result of additional compression. There are still some outstanding questions to me about this. How long does it take to Google Photos to recognize and act on this Settings change? Does this Settings change on the phone propagate to the web uploading? I'll keep playing with this.
Have fun!
On my Nexus I have Dropbox and Google Photos both set to automatically upload images when I'm on Wi-Fi. When I want to "archive" a photo, I transfer it from my smartphone to my laptop using Bluetooth.
Here are the actual images:
Dropbox
Bluetooth
Google Photos
To my untrained eye, the images are visually indistinguishable.
But the files are different. Here're the details as I observed. (complete data at the end of the post)
File Names
Dropbox: 2015-12-16 16.12.47.jpg
Bluetooth: IMG_20151216_161246.jpg
Google Photos: IMG_20151216_161246.jpg
Notice that not only does Dropbox rename the file but the implied date/time is different than the other methods.
File Size:
Dropbox: 2,623,643
Bluetooth: 2,623,643
Google Photos: 1,557,928
This is using Google Photos "Upload size" set to "High quality", not "Original". In this test Google further compressed the image by 40%.
The other characteristics and metadata are all the same as far as I can tell.
So what am I going to change?
Nothing, yet.
For me each of these tools have different use cases.
For Dropbox, I really like having my images automatically stored in a Windows file system. There's probably some method to accomplish this with Google Photos but it doesn't just jump out at me. I really don't like that Dropbox renames the files.
Bluetooth is clearly the geek's solution. I only use this method when I want to preserve a high quality image. The file system target for the Bluetooth upload varies by whether the file is an image or a video. I probably could change that.
Google Photos is the slickest tool. It's fast and easy to manage. Using "High quality" (which really isn't high quality) is free. I wish that Google wouldn't recompress the images when they fall below 16 megapixels. Since my camera is 8 megapixels I tried changing the "Upload size" to "Original" and sending the image again. I had the same result of additional compression. There are still some outstanding questions to me about this. How long does it take to Google Photos to recognize and act on this Settings change? Does this Settings change on the phone propagate to the web uploading? I'll keep playing with this.
Have fun!
Image properties
Image name : 2015-12-16 16.12.47 (Dropbox upload).jpg
Folder : C:\Users\Ben Moore\Desktop\Uploads\
Size : 3200 x 2368 pixels ==> 44.44 x 32.89 inches (72.00 dpi)
Color count : 518272
File size : 2.50 Mb
Date : 12/16/2015 4:12 PM
EXIF
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GPSDate Stamp=2015:12:16
GPSLongitude Ref=W
GPSLongitude=89 Degrees 33 Minutes 49 Seconds
GPSImage Direction=297/1
GPSLatitude Ref=N
GPSTime Stamp=22:12:34
GPSImage Direction Ref=M
GPSLatitude=34 Degrees 49 Minutes 55 Seconds
GPSInfo=692
Model=Nexus 5
Image Width=3200
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Date Time Digitized=2015:12:16 16:12:47
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Date Time Original=2015:12:16 16:12:47
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Exif Offset=234
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Make=LGE
Comment
Image name : 2015-12-16 16.12.47 (Dropbox upload).jpg
Folder : C:\Users\Ben Moore\Desktop\Uploads\
Size : 3200 x 2368 pixels ==> 44.44 x 32.89 inches (72.00 dpi)
Color count : 518272
File size : 2.50 Mb
Date : 12/16/2015 4:12 PM
EXIF
Date Time=2015:12:16 16:12:47
GPSDate Stamp=2015:12:16
GPSLongitude Ref=W
GPSLongitude=89 Degrees 33 Minutes 49 Seconds
GPSImage Direction=297/1
GPSLatitude Ref=N
GPSTime Stamp=22:12:34
GPSImage Direction Ref=M
GPSLatitude=34 Degrees 49 Minutes 55 Seconds
GPSInfo=692
Model=Nexus 5
Image Width=3200
Resolution Unit=Inch
YCb Cr Positioning=Centered
Image Length=2368
YResolution=72.00
Orientation=Normal
Software=HDR+ 1.0.106412213y
Color Space=sRGB
FNumber=F2.4
Date Time Digitized=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Subject Distance Range=Unknown
Focal Length=3.97 mm
Aperture Value=F2.5
Exposure Mode=Auto
Exif Image Length=2368
Custom Rendered=Custom process
Max Aperture Value=F2.5
Scene Capture Type=Standard
Scene Type=Directly Photographed
Digital Zoom Ratio=1/1
Saturation=Normal
Exposure Program=Normal
Sharpness=Normal
Exif Image Width=3200
Shutter Speed Value=0.0487 sec (1/21)
Metering Mode=Center
Date Time Original=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Components Configuration=YCbCr
Subject Distance=0/1
Flash=Off, surpressed
Exif Version=0210
Contrast=Normal
ISOSpeed Ratings=587
Sensing Method=OneChipColorArea
Flash Pix Version=0100
Exposure Time=48861/1000000 sec
Exif Offset=234
XResolution=72.00
Make=LGE
Comment
Dropbox
Image properties
Image name : IMG_20151216_161246 (Bluetooth transfer).jpg
Folder : C:\Users\Ben Moore\Desktop\Uploads\
Size : 3200 x 2368 pixels ==> 44.44 x 32.89 inches (72.00 dpi)
Color count : 518272
File size : 2.50 Mb
Date : 12/16/2015 10:03 PM
EXIF
Date Time=2015:12:16 16:12:47
GPSDate Stamp=2015:12:16
GPSLongitude Ref=W
GPSLongitude=89 Degrees 33 Minutes 49 Seconds
GPSImage Direction=297/1
GPSLatitude Ref=N
GPSTime Stamp=22:12:34
GPSImage Direction Ref=M
GPSLatitude=34 Degrees 49 Minutes 55 Seconds
GPSInfo=692
Model=Nexus 5
Image Width=3200
Resolution Unit=Inch
YCb Cr Positioning=Centered
Image Length=2368
YResolution=72.00
Orientation=Normal
Software=HDR+ 1.0.106412213y
Color Space=sRGB
FNumber=F2.4
Date Time Digitized=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Subject Distance Range=Unknown
Focal Length=3.97 mm
Aperture Value=F2.5
Exposure Mode=Auto
Exif Image Length=2368
Custom Rendered=Custom process
Max Aperture Value=F2.5
Scene Capture Type=Standard
Scene Type=Directly Photographed
Digital Zoom Ratio=1/1
Saturation=Normal
Exposure Program=Normal
Sharpness=Normal
Exif Image Width=3200
Shutter Speed Value=0.0487 sec (1/21)
Metering Mode=Center
Date Time Original=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Components Configuration=YCbCr
Subject Distance=0/1
Flash=Off, surpressed
Exif Version=0210
Contrast=Normal
ISOSpeed Ratings=587
Sensing Method=OneChipColorArea
Flash Pix Version=0100
Exposure Time=48861/1000000 sec
Exif Offset=234
XResolution=72.00
Make=LGE
Comment
Image name : IMG_20151216_161246 (Bluetooth transfer).jpg
Folder : C:\Users\Ben Moore\Desktop\Uploads\
Size : 3200 x 2368 pixels ==> 44.44 x 32.89 inches (72.00 dpi)
Color count : 518272
File size : 2.50 Mb
Date : 12/16/2015 10:03 PM
EXIF
Date Time=2015:12:16 16:12:47
GPSDate Stamp=2015:12:16
GPSLongitude Ref=W
GPSLongitude=89 Degrees 33 Minutes 49 Seconds
GPSImage Direction=297/1
GPSLatitude Ref=N
GPSTime Stamp=22:12:34
GPSImage Direction Ref=M
GPSLatitude=34 Degrees 49 Minutes 55 Seconds
GPSInfo=692
Model=Nexus 5
Image Width=3200
Resolution Unit=Inch
YCb Cr Positioning=Centered
Image Length=2368
YResolution=72.00
Orientation=Normal
Software=HDR+ 1.0.106412213y
Color Space=sRGB
FNumber=F2.4
Date Time Digitized=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Subject Distance Range=Unknown
Focal Length=3.97 mm
Aperture Value=F2.5
Exposure Mode=Auto
Exif Image Length=2368
Custom Rendered=Custom process
Max Aperture Value=F2.5
Scene Capture Type=Standard
Scene Type=Directly Photographed
Digital Zoom Ratio=1/1
Saturation=Normal
Exposure Program=Normal
Sharpness=Normal
Exif Image Width=3200
Shutter Speed Value=0.0487 sec (1/21)
Metering Mode=Center
Date Time Original=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Components Configuration=YCbCr
Subject Distance=0/1
Flash=Off, surpressed
Exif Version=0210
Contrast=Normal
ISOSpeed Ratings=587
Sensing Method=OneChipColorArea
Flash Pix Version=0100
Exposure Time=48861/1000000 sec
Exif Offset=234
XResolution=72.00
Make=LGE
Comment
Bluetooth
Image properties
Image name : IMG_20151216_161246 (Google Photos download).jpg
Folder : C:\Users\Ben Moore\Desktop\Uploads\
Size : 3200 x 2368 pixels ==> 44.44 x 32.89 inches (72.00 dpi)
Color count : 515986
File size : 1.49 Mb
Date : 12/16/2015 10:19 PM
EXIF
Image Width=3200
Image Length=2368
Make=LGE
Model=Nexus 5
Orientation=Normal
XResolution=72.00
YResolution=72.00
Resolution Unit=Inch
Software=HDR+ 1.0.106412213y
Date Time=2015:12:16 16:12:47
YCb Cr Positioning=Centered
Exposure Time=48861/1000000 sec
FNumber=F2.4
Exposure Program=Normal
ISOSpeed Ratings=587
Exif Version=0210
Date Time Original=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Date Time Digitized=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Components Configuration=YCbCr
Shutter Speed Value=0.0487 sec (1/21)
Aperture Value=F2.5
Max Aperture Value=F2.5
Subject Distance=0/1
Metering Mode=Center
Flash=Off, surpressed
Focal Length=3.97 mm
Flash Pix Version=0100
Color Space=sRGB
Exif Image Width=3200
Exif Image Length=2368
Sensing Method=OneChipColorArea
Scene Type=Directly Photographed
Custom Rendered=Custom process
Exposure Mode=Auto
Digital Zoom Ratio=1/1
Scene Capture Type=Standard
Contrast=Normal
Saturation=Normal
Sharpness=Normal
Subject Distance Range=Unknown
Image Unique ID=07daf91361effb820000000000000000
Exif Offset=234
GPSLatitude Ref=N
GPSLatitude=34 Degrees 49 Minutes 55 Seconds
GPSLongitude Ref=W
GPSLongitude=89 Degrees 33 Minutes 49 Seconds
GPSAltitude Ref=Sealevel
GPSTime Stamp=22:12:34
GPSImage Direction Ref=M
GPSImage Direction=297/1
GPSDate Stamp=2015:12:16
GPSInfo=738
Comment
Image name : IMG_20151216_161246 (Google Photos download).jpg
Folder : C:\Users\Ben Moore\Desktop\Uploads\
Size : 3200 x 2368 pixels ==> 44.44 x 32.89 inches (72.00 dpi)
Color count : 515986
File size : 1.49 Mb
Date : 12/16/2015 10:19 PM
EXIF
Image Width=3200
Image Length=2368
Make=LGE
Model=Nexus 5
Orientation=Normal
XResolution=72.00
YResolution=72.00
Resolution Unit=Inch
Software=HDR+ 1.0.106412213y
Date Time=2015:12:16 16:12:47
YCb Cr Positioning=Centered
Exposure Time=48861/1000000 sec
FNumber=F2.4
Exposure Program=Normal
ISOSpeed Ratings=587
Exif Version=0210
Date Time Original=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Date Time Digitized=2015:12:16 16:12:47
Components Configuration=YCbCr
Shutter Speed Value=0.0487 sec (1/21)
Aperture Value=F2.5
Max Aperture Value=F2.5
Subject Distance=0/1
Metering Mode=Center
Flash=Off, surpressed
Focal Length=3.97 mm
Flash Pix Version=0100
Color Space=sRGB
Exif Image Width=3200
Exif Image Length=2368
Sensing Method=OneChipColorArea
Scene Type=Directly Photographed
Custom Rendered=Custom process
Exposure Mode=Auto
Digital Zoom Ratio=1/1
Scene Capture Type=Standard
Contrast=Normal
Saturation=Normal
Sharpness=Normal
Subject Distance Range=Unknown
Image Unique ID=07daf91361effb820000000000000000
Exif Offset=234
GPSLatitude Ref=N
GPSLatitude=34 Degrees 49 Minutes 55 Seconds
GPSLongitude Ref=W
GPSLongitude=89 Degrees 33 Minutes 49 Seconds
GPSAltitude Ref=Sealevel
GPSTime Stamp=22:12:34
GPSImage Direction Ref=M
GPSImage Direction=297/1
GPSDate Stamp=2015:12:16
GPSInfo=738
Comment
Google Photos
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