[rumor] Google discontinuing the Nexus line.

[BrightCandle]

I really hope its not true. The main reason I like having a Nexus phone is that it ensures I will receive the updates to Android for a good while and quickly after the release. It also ensures I don't get any rubbishware along with the phone, I get the pure android experience which I can then customise as I choose fit. I get to buy a phone away from a carrier and chose and move my tariff as deals present themselves (or as existing carriers mess up).

The news that the Nexus brand might die along with the benefits it brings is saddening, I don't know what I would buy without it there but I don't really want to be buying directly from the carriers nor paying the extortionate prices these firms charge for Nexus like hardware. Its almost enough to make me want an iPhone *sob*.

 

[Mopetar]

I'd guess the 8" swallows (replaces) the 7", with bezel reduction keeping the size. Could be wrong though.

That would probably be the most likely event if they did come out with an 8" tablet. ~ 8" does seem like a good middle ground for most people. I personally prefer a 10" tablet, but I can see that a lot probably enjoy the convenience factor of an 8" tablet, and with smaller bezels, they're not much larger than a 7" tablet.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I think the death of Nexus sounds very likely.

First, Google Play Edition has made Nexus redundant. We no longer need a Nexus phone to get a pure Android experience, GPE does that too.

Second, Google never really wanted to be in the hardware business or competing against partners. And while Nexus phones are probably not selling enough to be considered competition to Samsung, I do think each generation of Nexus has been selling better than the previous and maybe it's bothering some of the smaller Android manufactures who are competing over Samsung's crumbs.

The existance of GPE I think definitely means Nexus days are numbered.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Second, Google never really wanted to be in the hardware business or competing against partners. And while Nexus phones are probably not selling enough to be considered competition to Samsung, I do think each generation of Nexus has been selling better than the previous and maybe it's bothering some of the smaller Android manufactures who are competing over Samsung's crumbs.

Great point. Many in the industry blame the G2's poor sales on the Nexus 5's existence. I don't agree, but the fact remains being Google's Nexus partner went from being an advantage (like how Samsung used it to get early access to Android builds) to being a disadvantage.

But I think this is the perfect time for a break.

I mean we have the GPe Moto G for sale right now with close to Nexus 4 specs. Next year we will have a Moto G2 or whatever with Moto X specs. Soon the low end will have the kind of hardware we want WITHOUT Google subsidizing it.

 

[jacktesterson]

I still think the LG G2 is the best all around phone available today.

 

[Red Storm]

... Its almost enough to make me want an iPhone *sob*.

Err... what? You don't want to buy expensive phones from carriers, so you're going to go do just that?

GPE devices will still be around, they will the Nexus devices beyond 2015.

 

[postmortemIA]

I still think the LG G2 is the best all around phone available today.

Could be... hardware wise. Although due to poor sales, LG will probably give up supporting it with releases. There are community ROMS for sure, but that's not how you drive sales.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I still think the LG G2 is the best all around phone available today.

I am not disagreeing with that, but some people do blame poor sales on the Nexus 5:

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20131226PD214.html

 

[jacktesterson]

I love my Nexus 10. Running CM 11 + Franco Kernel on it, its buttery smooth. I would not have upgraded to the new N10 anyways as I'm perfectly happy with my current N10. Tons of people on XDA feel the same way.

 

[Bateluer]

Could be... hardware wise. Although due to poor sales, LG will probably give up supporting it with releases. There are community ROMS for sure, but that's not how you drive sales.

LG has never really supported their flagships.

The Nexus line still has a purpose, and the GPe devices don't cut it. GPe is nice, and I bought the GPe G-Pad, but they aren't a substitute for a Nexus. Especially since the OEM doesn't have to release their flagships as a GPe, and since they're responsible for the updates, support could end very quickly.

Hopefully, the Nexus line isn't a casualty of the Samsung deal.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I think the death of Nexus sounds very likely.

First, Google Play Edition has made Nexus redundant. We no longer need a Nexus phone to get a pure Android experience, GPE does that too.

Second, Google never really wanted to be in the hardware business or competing against partners. And while Nexus phones are probably not selling enough to be considered competition to Samsung, I do think each generation of Nexus has been selling better than the previous and maybe it's bothering some of the smaller Android manufactures who are competing over Samsung's crumbs.

The existance of GPE I think definitely means Nexus days are numbered.

I always thought the GPE makes for a more awkward product given that it's pitting the S4 against itself. It confuses consumers regarding Samsung's hardware, and it's like having Apple sell a MacBook with Windows preinstalled and one with iOS pre-installed.

The Nexus keeps the vanilla Android experience on a separate device. The issue with it is now price because if it gets too popular, then it cannibalizes the partners' sales. That's why I've been against the super cheap pricing of Nexus phones.

What happened to the crowd on AT that was all chanting the death of $600 phones and a revolution was about to occur? Seems to me we're just in for more of the same?

 

[jacktesterson]

I converted somebodies HTC One to a full working, updatable from Google, Google Play Edition. They loved it. Unfortunately can't do the same with the S4, but...

Positives of GPe phones are Roms based off the GPe's for non GPs's.

= Stability almost right away

 

[ezclick]

oh no!

 

[ezclick]

this must be a rumor! ;(

 

[Graze]

In Google's earning call they said that the Nexus line is doing very well(whatever that means) so I don't see why they would want to do this.

 

[Red Storm]

In Google's earning call they said that the Nexus line is doing very well(whatever that means) so I don't see why they would want to do this.

The rumor is that Google got Samsung to agree to bring Touchwiz more in line with stock Android as well as promote the Play Store and not the Samsung apps store, in addition to providing more Google Play Edition devices. To get Samsung to agree to this Google had to sell off Moto and drop the Nexus line.

That's the rumor anyway.

 

[Graze]

The rumor is that Google got Samsung to agree to bring Touchwiz more in line with stock Android as well as promote the Play Store and not the Samsung apps store, in addition to providing more Google Play Edition devices. To get Samsung to agree to this Google had to sell off Moto and drop the Nexus line.

That's the rumor anyway.

So basically Samsung had Google by the balls?

 

[Red Storm]

So basically Samsung had Google by the balls?

Uh no it seems to be pretty even. Samsung is the majority of Android, and Google got them to veer back towards stock Android and promoting the Play Store rather than their own app store and crazy UI. And both companies have a cross license patent deal, and Google kept all the parts of Moto they wanted.

 

[gorcorps]

I converted somebodies HTC One to a full working, updatable from Google, Google Play Edition. They loved it. Unfortunately can't do the same with the S4, but...

Positives of GPe phones are Roms based off the GPe's for non GPs's.

= Stability almost right away

The HTC One has an IR blaster right? Did it still work? On my galaxy S4 I stayed away from anything not TouchWiz based because it broke the IR blaster. It's the most useful feature on my phone by far now that I have it and a smart remote app (I think it cost $3 or so?)

I REALLY hope it's not one of those features that only lasts a generation. I haven't touched my Harmony in a month or so.

 

[ChronoReverse]

The HTC One has an IR blaster right? Did it still work? On my galaxy S4 I stayed away from anything not TouchWiz based because it broke the IR blaster. It's the most useful feature on my phone by far now that I have it and a smart remote app (I think it cost $3 or so?)

You know, the IR blaster has worked with non-Touchwiz custom ROMs for a while now. Both GPe ROMs and Cyanogenmod ROMs, for instance, have working IR.

 

[sweenish]

4.4 has IR support baked in.

 

[podspi]

Android is open source, but that Android does not come with any of the Google Apps, most notably the Play Store.

True, but I imagine MSFT would want to create its own ecosystem, similar to Amazon (but leveraging the fact that people can 'port' easily).

I am not disagreeing with that, but some people do blame poor sales on the Nexus 5:

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20131226PD214.html

I would blame the poor sales on the G2 being branded an LG. Honestly, even though the G2 looks awesome I don't think I'd buy one. I have an LG Revolution and well... what more needs to be said? :biggrin:

 

[Jodell88]

I would blame the poor sales on the G2 being branded an LG. Honestly, even though the G2 looks awesome I don't think I'd buy one. I have an LG Revolution and well... what more needs to be said? :biggrin:

Exactly. LG can make the best Android phones on the market, but their support sucks.

 

[zerogear]

I doubt it, considering Google just called Nexus 5 a sales "success"

 

[zerogear]

Apple sell a MacBook with Windows preinstalled

I would buy this.