We Don't Need Nexus Phones Anymore?

[thedosbox]

I'd much rather use Google's OS as a foundation and select my own apps to extend features, rather than the manufacturer trying to bake them into the firmware.

I'm a sucker for aesthetics, and appreciate the more uniform look of Sense over a random collection of apps.

However, a GPe would meet your criteria.

 

[Shackanaw]

From the article:

By all means, keep making tablets - there aren't enough decent devices out there. But there's no win to be had in competing in the phone world

I definitely agree that they should continue making tablets. I've been so underwhelmed by Samsung's offerings, though I do admit that the Note (rather than the Tab) series seems to be getting decent reviews, so perhaps they are worth another look.

Google's Dave Burke made some points about why the Nexus line exists in an interview with The Verge, such as:

What are Google's Nexus devices for if not to be purchased by large numbers of consumers? Google's take on that issue has been consistent: they're "halo" devices meant to educate the rest of the ecosystem. Burke put it to us this way: "Basically what Nexus allows us to do is set the standard ... [we can] demonstrate how Android runs and hopefully influence other device manufacturers to take what we've done and do even better."

That brings us to the other — and more important — reason the Nexus line exists: Google simply needs hardware on which it can develop Android. Burke says "as an engineering team creating a mobile platform — we can't do that in the abstract. We need to do it on a real device that we're carrying with us." When people ask me about the Nexus line, I like to joke that if you need to create a few hundred polished and usable devices for Google engineers, why not make a few hundred thousand more and sell them to hardcore users?

 

[Shackanaw]

He's not wrong. While nerdier users might appreciate a bare bones experience in the same way some people insist on a command line, a big chunk of the market clearly appreciates Sense, Touchwiz etc.

Personally, I don't care much for the skins and carrier bloatware, but there are definitely some features that I wish my Nexus had, such as an FM tuner, or Sony's Battery STAMINA or whatever they call their app permissions which restrict what apps can use the data connection while the screen is off, or Motorola's active notifications and Connect, which allows you to receive text and call notifications and send texts from your desktop Chrome browser.

 

[Daniel Jones]

The title should be "I don't need nexus phones anymore", using WE made article a topic for dispute.

Nexus phones are great in performance, and those who do not want manufacturer apps Nexus phones are great for them.

 

[Raduque]

I definitely think we still need the Nexus phones. It's Google's baseline for how they think a phone should be and to showcase new features that others may not want to adopt right away. For example they had to make the Galaxy Nexus to show off the softkeys.

I personally think Google's baseline and how they think a phone should be is irrelevant.

Google's baseline is on-screen keys - I don't want them, I want the full and complete 100% of my screen resolution available at all times, not when the soft keys say I can have it.

Google's baseline is no uSD card slot - they want everybody to use streaming cloud service. The United States' cellular market is not designed for that, and the pitiful amounts of included storage is quickly eaten up if you're a gamer. Besides, I have 48gb of total storage on my Optimus G Pro (32 internal and 16 external) and have the ability to have 96gb. I don't need to sync, or download or copy or anything, if I move to a new phone that uses uSD cards - I simply move my card over with my SIM, and all my pictures and music are already there.

Google's baseline is no user-accessible battery. This is entirely unacceptable. I carry a spare battery for my OG Pro in my wallet. If I get low and I'm not near a charger, I simply swap batteries. Not only that, but it's worth it to not have to be tethered to an outlet with a 6' cord.

There's a whole host of other things I don't like about Google-stock Android, or rather I should say that I like the way the manufacturer software does things better than Google-stock Android does.

I don't fault Google for pushing their agenda using the Nexus phones. What I fault them for is not offering features I want, while everybody is telling me that Google-stock Android is what I should be running, irrespective of what features I personally need or want.

Not only that, but I don't like the Holo look. Flat looks boring and uninspired to me.

HTC and Motorola aren't doing enough to keep things balanced and so I think it is definitely a good idea for Google to continue pushing out their cheap subsidized phones.

I will agree with this, though. If you're OK with the shortcomings of Google-stock Android, and the hardware itself, the cheap prices are a great thing.

The Droid sold only a few units. And even then that's 1 carrier out of the 4 in America. How many Motorola Milestones sold worldwide? Practically none. It was the Galaxy phones that helped Android take off. It hit all 4 carriers in the US and was a worldwide launch. THAT is what I call mainstream.

Please. I'd be willing to bet more people bought iPhone 3GS phones on launch weekend than the Droid 1 ever sold.

The Motorola Droid moved millions. It was so popular and became so ingrained in the general public, that up until the Galaxy S II, most people called EVERY Android phone a "Droid".

The Galaxy line truly made Android phones take over, but the Droid started it all by bringing Android into the public eye, in a big way.

 

[sweenish]

I personally think Google's baseline and how they think a phone should be is irrelevant.

Google's baseline is on-screen keys - I don't want them, I want the full and complete 100% of my screen resolution available at all times, not when the soft keys say I can have it.

Google's baseline is no uSD card slot - they want everybody to use streaming cloud service. The United States' cellular market is not designed for that, and the pitiful amounts of included storage is quickly eaten up if you're a gamer. Besides, I have 48gb of total storage on my Optimus G Pro (32 internal and 16 external) and have the ability to have 96gb. I don't need to sync, or download or copy or anything, if I move to a new phone that uses uSD cards - I simply move my card over with my SIM, and all my pictures and music are already there.

Google's baseline is no user-accessible battery. This is entirely unacceptable. I carry a spare battery for my OG Pro in my wallet. If I get low and I'm not near a charger, I simply swap batteries. Not only that, but it's worth it to not have to be tethered to an outlet with a 6' cord.

There's a whole host of other things I don't like about Google-stock Android, or rather I should say that I like the way the manufacturer software does things better than Google-stock Android does.

I don't fault Google for pushing their agenda using the Nexus phones. What I fault them for is not offering features I want, while everybody is telling me that Google-stock Android is what I should be running, irrespective of what features I personally need or want.

Not only that, but I don't like the Holo look. Flat looks boring and uninspired to me.



I will agree with this, though. If you're OK with the shortcomings of Google-stock Android, and the hardware itself, the cheap prices are a great thing.



The Motorola Droid moved millions. It was so popular and became so ingrained in the general public, that up until the Galaxy S II, most people called EVERY Android phone a "Droid".

The Galaxy line truly made Android phones take over, but the Droid started it all by bringing Android into the public eye, in a big way.

I guess it's a good thing you have a choice in what handset you get.

I'm all about the AOSP and the hardware Google brings to the table.

This is why Android is awesome. We have very different opinions on the matter, and there are handsets to suit the both of us.

All I want is a killer camera like the Lumia 1020 in a Nexus. The camera doesn't have to be as ridiculous, but something super nice.

 

[Bateluer]

The Droid sold only a few units. And even then that's 1 carrier out of the 4 in America.*snip* Practically none. It was the Galaxy phones that helped Android take off. It hit all 4 carriers in the US and was a worldwide launch. THAT is what I call mainstream.

Nope, Motorola Droid combined with Verizon's massive Droid Does ad compaign made Android take off. Verizon needed a device that could go to toe to toe with the 3GS and their previous efforts with the Storms failed miserably. Google wasn't having much luck with the HTX build G1 and Samsung Beholds and Moments either.

Here's the video of global Android activations by date from 2008 to 2011. Observe what happens in November 2009, the month the Moto Droid launched. Boom!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqFpq9WXbJo

It took Samsung several tries to get their act together, their few couple of Android phones were terrible. The Beholds and Moments were awful, and the Galaxy S1 models were plagued by carrier infighting, GPS issues, UI lag, and nonexistent updates from both Samsung and the respective carriers. The GS2 improved immeasurably, but it wasn't until the GS3 that they really mastered the unified launch.

The Sprint Evo 4G was Sprint's flagship and sold well for a device on the 3rd largest carrier, but it wasn't in the same ballpark as the Moto Droid. Sadly, I don't think Motorola was ever able to recapture that. Shortly after, they ignored the things that made the Droid 1 such a great phone and started skinning their devices, locking bootloaders, and becoming dev hostile.

 

[Raduque]

I guess it's a good thing you have a choice in what handset you get.

I'm all about the AOSP and the hardware Google brings to the table.

This is why Android is awesome. We have very different opinions on the matter, and there are handsets to suit the both of us.

Couldn't agree more, and they're amazing handsets for the price.

Well, the actual Nexus phones are, anyway.

I simply don't agree with Google's hardware and software design philosophy.

Choice is good. :thumbsup: