Interesting Nexus rumors

[VashHT]

I saw this up on another site: http://androidandme.com/2012/10/new...hanges-lg-optimus-g-nexus-coming-in-november/

If the optimus g was made into a nexus phone that would be really nice, but the more interesting part of the rumor to me is the nexus program. I think it would be great to see multiple nexus phones out, it sucks seeing only one come out every year and if you don't like the hardware then you just have to suck it up if you want the most up to date software. The customization center sounds kind of interesting as well, it would be nice if it forced manufacturer's to break up their ROM's into a skin and apps instead of writing is as a whole package. That way you could get things like HTC's or Samsung's camera app on a stock ROM instead of being forced to use their skinned ROM just to get a few features you want.

 

[RedRooster]

The problem I see is even if the skins and the OS are seperate, would there not still be delays when a new OS comes out since the skin would need updating most likely, and there's no way these poor manufacturers would release something without their damn skin working.
It'll basically be the problem now, they'll find a way to block the OS update until they can get their skin updated and pushed out.

 

[Red Storm]

The problem I see is even if the skins and the OS are seperate, would there not still be delays when a new OS comes out since the skin would need updating most likely, and there's no way these poor manufacturers would release something without their damn skin working.
It'll basically be the problem now, they'll find a way to block the OS update until they can get their skin updated and pushed out.

Well maybe now since it's an optional thing it could be updated separately? Kinda like how Google rolls out updates to Maps and other apps separately from OS updates.

 

[VashHT]

Yeah I think it would be separate too, like they would update the skin in the customization center but you could update android regardless of the state of the skin.

 

[vshah]

Yeah I think it would be separate too, like they would update the skin in the customization center but you could update android regardless of the state of the skin.

and you simply wouldn't be able to apply the skin until it was updated for the new version of android.

 

[RedRooster]

I'm sure the manufacturers would find a way to delay the automated OS update though, when it comes to their stupid skins not being compatible in time, even if the two elements are completely seperate from each other. Makes me nervous thats all.

 

[bearxor]

This is super interesting, but I'd really need to know that the software updates to the device were going to remain constant.

A HTC OneX+ Nexus? I might come back on board for that.

 

[zerocool84]

This is super interesting, but I'd really need to know that the software updates to the device were going to remain constant.

A HTC OneX+ Nexus? I might come back on board for that.

That screen alone is worth it.

 

[preslove]

I'm pretty sure that Nexus phones won't be skinned. If it has the title 'Nexus' and is sold online by Google, then it should have a stock OS.

Isn't this just Google saying to the manufacturers, "we want as many Nexus phones as possible. Please take your flagship wireless provider branded phone and let us make a nexus phone out of it." Nexus = stock OS.

 

[Sid59]

I'm pretty sure that Nexus phones won't be skinned. If it has the title 'Nexus' and is sold online by Google, then it should have a stock OS.

Isn't this just Google saying to the manufacturers, "we want as many Nexus phones as possible. Please take your flagship wireless provider branded phone and let us make a nexus phone out of it." Nexus = stock OS.

I think Google is opening up a theming API, where you can turn off/on the theme. If they provide it and work out, Google would be pushing updates and mfgers can push their custom UI overlay.

Here's a good write up.
http://betanews.com/2012/10/04/could-five-new-nexus-devices-possibly-debut-november-5th

 

[destrekor]

I think Google is opening up a theming API, where you can turn off/on the theme. If they provide it and work out, Google would be pushing updates and mfgers can push their custom UI overlay.

Here's a good write up.
http://betanews.com/2012/10/04/could-five-new-nexus-devices-possibly-debut-november-5th

Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, when we release five Nexus devices to celebrate our Fifth Anniversary.

I like that.


Also, this concept of ALL Android phones featuring, let's say Android 4.2, and offering direct updates from Google regardless of model/brand/carrier... that would be terrific.

I actually think Google needs to take charge of Android and really run with management of the "Android with Google" platform. Android can remain open source while still allowing Google to completely dictate the fully-featured platform. Why? Google Play. That's a proprietary addition. Want the Google appstore and full Google support on the device you want to release? It must meet certain minimum specs and you must allow us to push clean updates - you can customize, but they are separate packages and the user retains control over what custom packages are enabled.

That might annoy manufacturers, but that, I imagine, would be a developer's wet dream right there.
Meanwhile, manufacturers could be free to push out Android with custom markets and/or the Amazon appstore if they don't want to go that route.

Community-developed ROMs still wouldn't be an issue - on phones that originally shipped with the Market (featuring minimum specs, possibly), there shouldn't be any worries about app compatibility. And developers could likely get Market working on ROMs designed for non-Google devices, but as with all such ROMs, compatibility and a stress-free experience are not guaranteed.

 

[Bateluer]

This really sounds like wishful thinking to me, so I'm going to take it with a few grains of salt. Its something that enthusiasts have been clamoring for since Android first got skinned.

On the Optimus G Nexus, that seems to be the most credible Nexus rumor at the moment, and would solve LG's #1 shortcoming, their software. I think they've gotten a good handle on their hardware design at this point, but continue to fall short in their OS updates and skins.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

lg phones look nice but they are buggy crap, certainly not nexus worthy. they are slower and more unstable than other brands. i checked out their new phablet at the verizon store yesterday and every time id try to use the browser it would crash and go back to the home screen. it was light and it looked nice though....

 

[vshah]

lg phones look nice but they are buggy crap, certainly not nexus worthy. they are slower and more unstable than other brands. i checked out their new phablet at the verizon store yesterday and every time id try to use the browser it would crash and go back to the home screen. it was light and it looked nice though....

right, and it's the software that's causing those problems. so put stock android on it, and those problems should go away.

 

[antef]

It would be great to see several Nexus phones sold unlocked for reasonable prices on the Play Store, as long as Google keeps the requirements strict. This means no delaying updates even though the manufacturer theme has not been updated yet, no locked bootloaders, and requiring on-screen buttons. Both Samsung and LG are still shipping phones with capacitive keys in back-home-menu layout, which means a) the 3-dot overflow button in apps is hidden, which is confusing, and b) you have to long-press home to see recent apps, which sucks. It's annoying that Samsung and LG went this route and if Google approved Nexus devices with this layout it would undermine their efforts to make Android's UI more intuitive. So I wonder if the Optimus G would actually be modified to lose those keys.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

It would be great to see several Nexus phones sold unlocked for reasonable prices on the Play Store, as long as Google keeps the requirements strict. This means no delaying updates even though the manufacturer theme has not been updated yet, no locked bootloaders, and requiring on-screen buttons. Both Samsung and LG are still shipping phones with capacitive keys in back-home-menu layout, which means a) the 3-dot overflow button in apps is hidden, which is confusing, and b) you have to long-press home to see recent apps, which sucks. It's annoying that Samsung and LG went this route and if Google approved Nexus devices with this layout it would undermine their efforts to make Android's UI more intuitive. So I wonder if the Optimus G would actually be modified to lose those keys.

"...for reasonable prices on the Play Store...". thats the key. its ridiculous that phone prices are kept at $700 just so verizon and att can get their middlemen's cuts.

 

[antef]

"...for reasonable prices on the Play Store...". thats the key. its ridiculous that phone prices are kept at $700 just so verizon and att can get their middlemen's cuts.

Agreed...the Nexus One debuted at $529 I think. That's the max I would consider tolerable. $400 would be better.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Agreed...the Nexus One debuted at $529 I think. That's the max I would consider tolerable. $400 would be better.

$400 max for a high end phone, $250-300 for a mid range one is where it should be

 

[bgstcola]

I've never understood why the updates are so delayed on non nexus phones. I imagine that two things need to happen before a manufacturer can release an update.

1. The skin needs to be adapted to the new Android version
2. The hardware drivers needs to be adapted.

Is it only 1. that takes time? Because if both of them take time wouldn't it be impossible to avoid a delay?

 

[WelshBloke]

I've never understood why the updates are so delayed on non nexus phones. I imagine that two things need to happen before a manufacturer can release an update.

1. The skin needs to be adapted to the new Android version
2. The hardware drivers needs to be adapted.

Is it only 1. that takes time? Because if both of them take time wouldn't it be impossible to avoid a delay?

My guess.

Nexus phone: Google make update>Google test update>Google release update


Non nexus phone: Google make update>Google test update>Google release update to manufacturers>manufacturer tests update>manufacturer updates custom UI and proprietary software>manufacturers test>manufacturers release to carriers>carriers tweak release>carriers test>carriers release update.

 

[VashHT]

I've never understood why the updates are so delayed on non nexus phones. I imagine that two things need to happen before a manufacturer can release an update.

1. The skin needs to be adapted to the new Android version
2. The hardware drivers needs to be adapted.

Is it only 1. that takes time? Because if both of them take time wouldn't it be impossible to avoid a delay?

In the US it has to be tested and approved by carriers as well which always seems to be the biggest delay.

 

[Fingolfin269]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/5/3459788/lg-nexus-phone-specs-release-date-rumor

MoDaCo founder Paul O'Brien has just released details on the purported LG Nexus, which he says came from a source he trusts "101 percent." The smartphone will be released in mid-November and is based on the flagship Optimus G, but the device will not look the same as LG's. The leaked specs include a 1280x768 "True-HD" IPS screen, quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, and 2GB of RAM. It will also have a sealed, non-removable battery and, initially at least, either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage with no microSD expansion. Although MoDaCo doesn't say how large the LG Nexus' screen might be, if it's based on the Optimus G 4.7-inches would be a good guess.
Aside from a spec sheet that's among the best on the market, a big selling point for Google seems to be wireless charging out of the box — a feature that's never been found in a Nexus device in the past. O'Brien says it's not clear if the device will be the only Nexus to be released, or one of many, but with the supposed release date little more than a month away, we shouldn't have too long a wait to find out.

Well let's see, I'm excited to learn that it may be mid-November and generally speaking the specs are good. But unfortunately it appears that some of the supposedly great things about Android phones are missing: Removable battery and it supposedly only comes in 8GB/16GB varieties with no expandable storage. I can live with 16GB, I'm doing it now with my iPhone, but was hoping to get a 16GB with expandable next.

 

[Red Storm]

Well let's see, I'm excited to learn that it may be mid-November and generally speaking the specs are good. But unfortunately it appears that some of the supposedly great things about Android phones are missing: Removable battery and it supposedly only comes in 8GB/16GB varieties with no expandable storage. I can live with 16GB, I'm doing it now with my iPhone, but was hoping to get a 16GB with expandable next.

I don't think any Nexus going forward is going to have expandable storage anymore.

 

[zerocool84]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/5/3459788/lg-nexus-phone-specs-release-date-rumor



Well let's see, I'm excited to learn that it may be mid-November and generally speaking the specs are good. But unfortunately it appears that some of the supposedly great things about Android phones are missing: Removable battery and it supposedly only comes in 8GB/16GB varieties with no expandable storage. I can live with 16GB, I'm doing it now with my iPhone, but was hoping to get a 16GB with expandable next.

Well since the Nexus S and GNexus don't have removable storage, it's pretty much guaranteed that no more Nexus phones will have it so no one should expect it at all anymore.

 

[Strk]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/5/3459788/lg-nexus-phone-specs-release-date-rumor



Well let's see, I'm excited to learn that it may be mid-November and generally speaking the specs are good. But unfortunately it appears that some of the supposedly great things about Android phones are missing: Removable battery and it supposedly only comes in 8GB/16GB varieties with no expandable storage. I can live with 16GB, I'm doing it now with my iPhone, but was hoping to get a 16GB with expandable next.

16gb is ok with all the cloud storage available. The big problem is how most plans suck and hurt the cloud stuff.