9to5 Google claims this is the Nexus 6/X.

[sze5003]

The more I think about that the more irritated I get. Google had a notification LED in the GNex, N4, N5, N7 2013, and N10. And all of a sudden its ditching that? Over the years Samsung added LED notifications on its phone and so have many other OEMs. Now the reference Nexus is losing that?

It's also somewhat annoying that Google never really embraced the LED notifications and was always reliant on 3rd party apps. Like what's the point of just flashing white for EVERY Google notification? It would've been nice in the past if in the notifications screen on Gmail, Hangouts, we not only got to select ringtone, and check a vibrate button, but also select a LED notification color. It seems like only 3rd party apps did that.

But now we're losing all that. Are we going to get any customization on the N6? I hope so. Like a blacklist/whitelist option like Motorola has.

I just feel like the LED notification was always a long ignored feature of phones that came with Android phones, but never got its proper setup screen in the OS. Its sad to see it go away now when it had a good potential and still does even in the face of Active Notifications.

Just my 2 cents, but I prefer a small dot lighting up in the corner of my phone rather than my whole screen which is more distracting. My friends with Moto Xs end up just putting their phones face down at meetings or coffee shops and ignore any notifications, but then what's the point? Having both features would've been nice.

It's odd that they did not include it I agree. But for me the led was sort of annoying. On my htc one its very small. I check my phone enough that I don't even bother to look at the light.

It is also odd third party apps had color adjustments but stock did not. I prefer active notifications and the whole screen is not supposed to light up only the notification icon itself. They mention there are a lot of settings in the video for notifications.

I hope it takes advantage of the amoled screen. Overall the phone looks great and I can't wait to try it out. Finally one phone I can use on any carrier.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Yeah Active Notifications will definitely take advantage of AMOLED. I'm sure Google wouldn't want to cripple the N6's battery life.

Yeah, the LED notifications just never got full support, but with the N4, N5, and OnePlus One, I've managed to setup a pretty solid system using Light Flow so I can differentiate between different types of notifications.

 

[lopri]

Another quick look video
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/21/7025853/google-nexus-6-hands-on-photos-video-android-phablet

I think the phone would have been a perfect candidate for LG G2/G3 style back buttons. It looks gorgeous in any case. My concern on the screen brightness remains on the assumption that the video was taken with the phone at max brightness.

 

[vi edit]

I'll take active display any day over notification light. Between that and the active sensor that knows I've turned it over or pulled it out of my pocket for a quick glance I'd have a hard time going back to a non-Moto phone at this point.

 

[cliftonite]

I'll take active display any day over notification light. Between that and the active sensor that knows I've turned it over or pulled it out of my pocket for a quick glance I'd have a hard time going back to a non-Moto phone at this point.

Same here. Notification LED was useless to me.

 

[Red Storm]

Another quick look video
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/21/7025853/google-nexus-6-hands-on-photos-video-android-phablet

Cannot freaking wait!

 

[dlock13]

Cannot freaking wait!

Wanna get me one, too? I can't wait either! 😀

 

[kpkp]

Does the Nexus 9 have the notification LED? That would tell as more about where Google currently stands.

 

[sze5003]

Cannot freaking wait!

Me neither. I am hearing that pre orders start Oct 29th at 2pm. One goofball on xda says 2am but that makes no sense.

I also believe that we will be able to buy it through play store and take it to any carrier. It has every single band for all carriers, at least the US edition.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Does the Nexus 9 have the notification LED? That would tell as more about where Google currently stands.

Not sure, couldn't find anything either.

But I think either way its awfully inconsistent of Google to have 3 years of LED notifications and then to abandon it again.

 

[kpkp]

Not sure, couldn't find anything either.

But I think either way its awfully inconsistent of Google to have 3 years of LED notifications and then to abandon it again.

You have to remember that most likely Nexus 6 wasn't even planed... Moto X 2014 doesn't have a notification light so neither does the big brother.

PS: I really want to see a tear down of the Nexus 6 and see if there are any signs that would suggest there was a plan to put those IR sensors before they decided it is going to be a Nexus.

 

[lothar]

I have a G2 whats wrong with the speaker?

Root Process is one click root, then Autorec to install a recovery literally takes all of 5 min.

Stock LG rom is meh I dont use it lol

Also, read this:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7567/smartphone-audio-quality-testing

 

[destrekor]

Not sure, couldn't find anything either.

But I think either way its awfully inconsistent of Google to have 3 years of LED notifications and then to abandon it again.

Well I am pretty sure the first instance of Active Display on the Moto X (first gen) was developed in collaboration with Google... so they were actively researching to improve on the "notification light" system.

Regarding placing phones screen down: I do that with my Moto X (first gen), but I also did that with any phone previously that had a notification LED. Either way, there was something that would blink or light up that I could block out by turning face down.

I think Google may have deemed the Active Display feature their preferred notification format, and I must say, I whole-heartedly agree. I love it.

I am curious if it will appear on the Nexus 9. And I wonder if they will use it for devices not made by Motorola. Another point to consider: will they use it even on LCD displays, or utilize the LED notification light for such devices? It wouldn't be appropriate on an LCD display.

 

[kpkp]

I am curious if it will appear on the Nexus 9. And I wonder if they will use it for devices not made by Motorola. Another point to consider: will they use it even on LCD displays, or utilize the LED notification light for such devices? It wouldn't be appropriate on an LCD display.

If you look at the Nexus 6 playstore page, you will see:

But there is no such data on the Nexus 9 page, which makes sense since lighting up a big LCD screen for every notification would be expensive.

There are 2 options I can think of:
- this is a Nexus 6 only feature
- this is an Android feature but is up to the OEM to enable it, if the device can handle it without ruining the battery life (OLED, small display...)

The second would make more sense, but the Nexus 6 is a strange beast and some "exclusive" feature would not shock me, considering also this feature isn't exposed on the Android 5 features list.

 

[dguy6789]

AMOLED is really the only screen technology that can get away with using the display for a notification light so I doubt the Nexus 9 uses its display for one.

 

[kpkp]

AMOLED is really the only screen technology that can get away with using the display for a notification light so I doubt the Nexus 9 uses its display for one.

Apple uses it on LCDs... As I said it is up to the OEM.

 

[deadken]

Dang... With all this talk about the Nexus 6 and me not wanting a phablet, I looked at the Play Store for a Nexus 5 and they are showing "We are out of inventory. Please check back soon." for both the 16 + 32GB versions. Ugh...

 

[sze5003]

Dang... With all this talk about the Nexus 6 and me not wanting a phablet, I looked at the Play Store for a Nexus 5 and they are showing "We are out of inventory. Please check back soon." for both the 16 + 32GB versions. Ugh...

They should be back in stock in a day or two. Right now I think they are preparing for the nexus 6 preorders.

 

[Bman123]

Too much cash, you get a big screen with no added functionality. I'll gladly pass for $650

 

[sze5003]

Too much cash, you get a big screen with no added functionality. I'll gladly pass for $650

Its the same price or less than other flagships. Has all bands so you can take it to any carrier in the US. That alone for me is worth it.

 

[Bman123]

I'm just torn because it's a $650 nexus, I was hoping for normal nexus pricing that's all.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I'm just torn because it's a $650 nexus, I was hoping for normal nexus pricing that's all.

There is no such thing as normal nexus pricing. The first two nexus phones were priced at the same rate as other comparable phones, also arguably the third one.

Too much cash, you get a big screen with no added functionality. I'll gladly pass for $650

So every smartphone released in the past 3 years.

 

[Dari]

After having phones loaded with bloatware, I'm seriously thinking of getting this phone.

 

[poofyhairguy]

After having phones loaded with bloatware, I'm seriously thinking of getting this phone.

It is confirmed to have one of those evil Samsung OLEDs though....

 

[cbrunny]

When is the media embargo up? I'm so sick of companies announcing a phone and then keeping us in the dark for ages. If you are ready to launch a phone, LAUNCH THE PHONE!