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Opinion: The Galaxy Nexus volume bug is Google's wake-up call
Published on Nov 23, 2011
As you may well be aware, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus launched in the UK recently. The third in the Nexus line of Google Phones, this impressive device is the first to carry Android 4.0 - also known as Ice Cream Sandwich - and packs a dual-core processor, a HD resolution Super Amoled screen and a unique feature that allows you to unlock your phone using nothing but your face.
For hardcore Android fans, this is the phone release of the year. Because Nexus devices offer pure Android (most other handsets have manufacturer-produced skins and are packed with needless bloatware), the experts - not to mention scores of developers - cite Nexus phones are their primary handset. You're getting Android just as Google intended, with no modifications or outside interference. It's the purest experience.
Unfortunately, the Galaxy Nexus has turned to be something of a nightmare for many dutiful early-adopters - myself included.
Like thousands of other consumers, I hunted high and low for a Galaxy Nexus phone when it launched in the UK on the 17th November. Due to a tiresome exclusivity agreement signed with Phones 4u, the Galaxy Nexus was not available from any other rival multi-network phone store, but could be obtained directly from O2 and 3.
I rang around, reserved a phone and a few hours later walked away from the store with what I anticipated would be my new favourite toy.
Within a few hours of using the Galaxy Nexus, though, I spotted something was very wrong. The volume of the phone would randomly drop down to nothing, and the device would go haywire for a few seconds, as if someone were frantically mashing the volume rocker (see the video below).
Concerned that I had a faulty handset, I searched online to see if anyone else was suffering from the issue and found that quite a few were. In fact, the topic I found over a XDA Developers is now almost 100 pages long and a poll conducted on the site shows that almost 60% of Galaxy Nexus owners are impacted by the exact same fault.
Although neither Samsung nor Google has officially confirmed the issue (Ed - at the time of editing, both parties now have), it seems to be connected to the phone's handling of 2G and EDGE connections. When the phone is connected to a 3G network, the issue doesn't appear, but the moment it has to switch to the old-fashioned network standard, the volume goes crazy.
The problematic frequency is 900MHz, which is used commonly in the UK and Europe by networks such as O2 and Vodafone. Networks such as Orange, 3 and T-Mobile don't use this frequency band, and that explains why some buyers have yet to experience the problem.
This is almost certainly a hardware issue, despite what many other sources on the net say. A poster on XDA illustrated this fact by taking another phone and placing it next to the Galaxy Nexus when in Airplane mode. The volume control again went crazy, proving that it has to be something to do with 2G reception.
You are probably wondering how the hell did this happen to what has to be the biggest Android phone launch so far? Several theories have been put forward. Samsung is a Korean company and the 900MHz 2G standard is not used in that part of the world. It could be Samsung just neglected to test that particular band, even though it is legally required to do so if it intends to sell the phone in Europe.
Continues…
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