PhoneArena is looking for new authors! To view all available positions, click here.

Phone Links

more » more »
  • Home
  • ›
  • News
  • ›
  • The changing face of Google Nexus brand

The changing face of Google Nexus brand

Posted: , by Michael H.

Categories:

Share:

Discuss 73
The changing face of Google Nexus brand
Some have commented that some of our coverage of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has been too negative, and that certainly was not the intention. However, we do feel that there are some valid questions that need to be asked about the device and the path that Google is taking with it. Because, aside from whether or not the device is good or not, the handling of the device is a big departure from past Nexus devices, and we aren't sure if Google is controlling the experience properly, or how much Google is controlling it at all. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is different from its Nexus descendants in a number of ways, and we want to look into what has been changing. But first, we need to start with what Nexus is, and what it should continue to be.

What Nexus is

The changing face of Google Nexus brand
Traditionally, the Nexus devices have had three main purposes in design:

  1. To be a pure Google Android experience.
  2. To be a developer reference device.
  3. To be a hardware reference for other manufacturers.

These are the main defining characteristics of a Nexus device. A pure Android experience is necessary and beneficial to the Android ecosystem as a whole because it creates a baseline for what the platform is and what it offers. Pure Android shows all of the features that make Android unique, and also serves to highlight how manufacturer customization benefits and harms the ecosystem. Custom UIs can add layers of polish and design spark, but will also serve to slow down device performance as well as software update times. Pure Android also showed how certain carriers were disabling standard features of Android, such as tethering or sideloading apps. 

Being a developer reference device is also about creating a baseline experience. It gives developers one device that will always have the fastest path to getting the newest update of the Android operating system. And, it is a device that is easy and hassle-free to unlock and root, so developers can get deeper access into the system and make sure their apps take advantage of what Android offers. 

Being a hardware reference device is a more ambiguous idea, but an important one nonetheless. Because there are so many devices in the Android ecosystem, certain hardware components and features will evolve simply by the process of competition. But, sometimes the ecosystem stagnates or takes a path that Google doesn't think is best, or is hesitant to adopt certain features. That's where the Nexus acts as a carrot to lure manufacturers towards certain features. 

The Nexus One pushed for more adoption of faster processors, AMOLED screens, LED notifications, and a secondary microphone for ambient noise cancellation. Some of these features were adopted (faster CPUs, secondary mics), some weren't (LED notifications). The Nexus S pushed for larger internal storage and less reliance on SD cards, front-facing cameras, NFC chips, and faster GPUs. Again, most of those features have become standard, with the exception of NFC. The Galaxy Nexus is pushing HD resolution screens, NFC (still), and no physical function buttons.

Unintended consequences

These basic characteristics of what a Nexus device would be had some unintended consequences. First, pure Android alienated more controlling carriers (Verizon, AT&T) because those carriers didn't want to give users free and easy ways to tether their phones to other devices, or install apps from any source. This meant that the devices were relegated to smaller carriers like T-Mobile, which were willing to take risks with more open policies, because they just needed more business. 

In turn, this alienated many mass market consumers because the Nexus devices weren't available on the most popular carriers, and could only be purchased outside of the traditional system. The Nexus One was the worst offender, being available only for purchase through Google's website. The Nexus S found a bit more success being sold in Best Buy and eventually Sprint stores, but it was still too limiting. Additionally, stock Android was not the prettiest OS, so simply the look of it turned off some more casual consumers, especially when viewed next to an HTC Sense device. In general, casual consumers either didn't know the Nexus devices existed, or they didn't understand the point of such a device. 

Consequently, the Nexus devices became synonymous with early adopters, the mod community, and hardcore Android fans in general. Only the most dedicated knew about the devices, why they were special, and why they were necessary to the Android ecosystem as a whole. As always happens with cult items like this, the hardcore community took something of ownership in the Nexus brand, and that brand is changing.

The Galaxy Nexus pivot

The Galaxy Nexus is the first Nexus device that is actively being marketed as a mass market device. This is not just a developer device, or an early adopter device, or a device for uber-geeks. This is a device for everyone. This new philosophy is shown not only in the UI overhaul of Ice Cream Sandwich, but in the advertisements for the Nexus, the selling price of the device in some regions, and its upcoming availability on Verizon. It is still a Nexus device, the trouble is that it's feeling less and less like a Google device because it seems that Google has had to cede more and more control in order to get this Nexus to a wider audience. We even saw that in the videos introducing Android 4.0 that Google posted yesterday show Galaxy Nexus phones where the Verizon branding on the back is by far the prominent logo.

The changing face of Google Nexus brand
Nexus devices have always been first and foremost Google devices. Google would partner with manufacturers in designing and producing the hardware, but at the end of the day you were left with the Google Nexus One and the Google Nexus S. There were no compromises made to the idea of a pure Android experience, and Google always felt in control, for better or worse. This tended to mean that the device would be a great piece of hardware and software that wasn't marketed well, and ended up with a limited reach.

Now, Google seems to be taking a backseat to everyone with the Galaxy Nexus. First and foremost, this is not a Google device, it is a Samsung device. It is not a descendent of the Google Galaxy Nexus, or the Google Nexus Prime. Rather, it is a cousin of the Samsung Galaxy line, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Those of us who dive more deeply into news and happenings will see the Nexus tag and understand what the device is and what it offers, but few casual consumers are likely to understand that this is a Google device, because Google's name is not on it. 

Making concessions

This may seem like a relatively small thing, because in our community we automatically connect "Android" to "Google" anyway. The trouble is that many casual consumers don't make that connection. That has been a major effect of Verizon's presence in the Android ecosystem. The DROID commercials have been the only iconic marketing campaign for Android that has resonated with consumers. The trouble is that because of this, it is common for many people to substitute the word "droid" as a blanket term for all Android devices, and connect the idea of droid to Verizon, not Google. All of this takes away from the primary reason for Nexus devices: to be a pure Google Android experience. As writers, we may believe it more than most, but words have power, and Google has ceded a lot by removing its name from this Nexus device. The name implies authorship, and this makes it seem like Google wasn't as big a part of the creation of this device as you would expect from a "pure Google experience" phone. 

For many consumers, this will not be a Google Nexus device with a pure Android experience, it will be Samsung Galaxy device with Verizon branding.
The concessions go past just the name of the device of course. We had already seen with the Nexus S on Sprint that Google was willing to compromise on features in order to appease carriers. With the Nexus S a software update removed free WiFi hotspot and tethering capabilities in favor of giving control to Sprint. We're sure that free tethering and WiFi hotspot capabilities will not be part of the Galaxy Nexus, at least not on Verizon. We've also seen that there are at least two pieces of bloatware packed onto the Verizon Galaxy Nexus. Again, this is a small thing, but it adds to the list of compromises that Google has been making. Those two pieces of bloat add to the subjugation of Google. For many consumers, this will not be a Google Nexus device with a pure Android experience, it will be Samsung Galaxy device with Verizon branding. 

The biggest concession of all is one that we've talked about before, which is that Google has seemingly no real control over the release of the Galaxy Nexus. Google has made deals with carriers around the world to bring the Nexus to market, but those deals obviously have not included any kind of marketing campaigns. Google hasn't made any comments on the specific release dates or even specific carriers. We know that Verizon will have the Galaxy Nexus, but we still don't know when, or if that will be a full or timed exclusive. 

Conclusion

The Google Nexus line of devices is not the same thing that it once was. It used to be a study in a pure Google Android experience, and it still is a developer device, and shows the direction Google wanted the hardware to move. Because they were wholly Google controlled devices, they were a sort of spiritual flagship device for the ecosystem, and could never move past being a spiritual flagship because it had a limited reach from being outside of the traditional carrier system. Now, Google is increasingly taking a back seat with the Nexus to the point where the only thing that can truly be said to be Google is Ice Cream Sandwich. And, Ice Cream Sandwich is definitely pure Google, and looks amazing, however the handling of the Galaxy Nexus as a whole has us questioning who is in control.

Whether you like or hate Apple products or the way Apple has traditionally done business, Apple does not take a back seat with its devices, especially those considered to be "flagship" devices. Apple creates products to a standard and markets them well; that drives the success. Google makes products to a standard and assumes that will be enough to make them successful. And, when that failed, rather than creating better marketing and communication with consumers, Google ceded control of the device to carriers and manufacturers in hopes of getting it out to the masses. Google gave away the ability to build up its own name in the market for a chance that the established Samsung Galaxy name will lead to more success for this Nexus device. 

To be clear, Google's way may still work. We haven't seen the Galaxy Nexus in all markets. We haven't seen if there are holiday advertising campaigns planned. And obviously, we don't know if it will sell well or not. But, that's not the point of this discussion. The point is that Nexus devices are, above all else, supposed to be pure Google experiences, free from outside control. Google is supposed to be the author of its story. To push the literary metaphor, Nexus should be Google's Android autobiography, but with the Galaxy Nexus, Google has become little more than a ghost writer. That may lead to a more successful device that can legitimately be called the flagship Android device, but it also fundamentally changes what Nexus is, and it takes control away from Google. And, we don't know where that leads.

Share:

Discuss73

73 Comments

  • Options
    Close




Want to comment? Please login or register.

1. tacohunter posted on 18 Nov 2011, 16:19 3 6

First. Nice article

Reply

35. Synack posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:01 3 4

I\'m sorry but this is a pure Google experience with LTE on top. Give me a friggin break, you can\'t call it a PURE Google experience because it has Backup Assistant and My Verizon apps? No, that\'s crap. Just because it\'s no longer an exclusive geek only phone that wasn\'t mega advertised (we still have yet to see commercials on the tube) doesn\'t mean it won\'t be pure Google. There are absolutely no skins or carrier bloatware (Backup Assistant and My Verizon isn\'t bloat) on this device. It IS pure Google. This isn\'t an opinion, it is a fact. This device is doing what Nexus has always done, just like you said; set the benchmark for hardware and software. It introduces new things that no other devices have like past Nexus\'s. Verizon won\'t have any control over this phone. The only control they might have is slowing down your stupid fast 4G LTE connection if you\'re in the 5% of people that download way too much. T-Mobile has been doing that for a while, where the first Nexus device was directed to, just like you said.

Point is, this is Pure Google. Go back to your iPhone with 3G.

Reply

36. Synack posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:03 6 3

And I have no idea why your website is putting backslashes before every single one of my apostrophes.

Reply

69. fervid posted on 22 Nov 2011, 09:45

Most likely Magic Quotes are turned on. Since this is an old feature and off in current PHP versions they are either running an older/less secure PHP or have it turned on manually. They could also be manually adding slashes with another function which is the wrong one to use for an HTML post and they should be using htmlentities.

Reply

62. Retro-touch posted on 19 Nov 2011, 03:57 3 1

Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeZ8sfJjoRI

Reply

2. username posted on 18 Nov 2011, 16:26 11

i love nexus. i have a nexus one, nexus s, and definattly cant wait for the galaxy nexus.

Reply

3. MichaelHeller posted on 18 Nov 2011, 16:44 10

I love Nexus too, and I'm definitely impatient for the Galaxy Nexus, but I'm not switching to Verizon for it, and I have no idea when or where I'll be able to get my hands on a T-Mobile version.

Reply

6. remixfa posted on 18 Nov 2011, 16:52 7

if there isnt a T-mo version, i would be highly surprised. we just need to force VZW to launch the darn thing so we can get past the exclusivity to find out...lol

Reply

7. protozeloz posted on 18 Nov 2011, 16:54 3

Many are buying the euro version. Maybe Amazon and others ship the unlocked version soon

Reply

20. remixfa posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:17 3

has anyone fully confirmed HSPA+ compatibility with the euro version and Tmo USA?

Reply

21. protozeloz posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:19 2 1

its said to be pentaband with ATT and tmobile bands on it

Reply

24. LewsTherin006 posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:22 6 1

yea, engadget tested it. it works on tmo and att.

Reply

30. protozeloz posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:34 2 1

EXCELLENT :3

Reply

67. MichaelHeller posted on 20 Nov 2011, 19:35 1

It's a pentaband radio, so that should cover everything.

Reply

60. ElectroManiac posted on 19 Nov 2011, 00:49 1 1

Any idea from where you can import the europe version?

Reply

61. protozeloz posted on 19 Nov 2011, 02:57 1 1

So far eBay. But my bet Amazon will have it soon and with US warranty

Reply

4. SoopaManLuv posted on 18 Nov 2011, 16:50 3

I'm still getting one. F all tha negative, I'm looking at it like this: my current phone is a DroidX. When I got it it was one of tha top dogs on Verizon. Far as I'm (as in ME) concerned, it will b tha best DROID on Verizon and I'm not into going backwards. U know, upgrade. Not down grade. Also, good article. Everything he said is true but most of us r like me and not really concerned about 2 pieces of bloatware or the "google" experience. We jus want tha damn phone! Bring it on!

Reply

5. remixfa posted on 18 Nov 2011, 16:51 7

I still contend that they should call the verizon version the Droid Prime/galaxy, instead of the galaxy nexus, to keep the distinction. we all also kinda kept our fingers crossed that VZW wouldnt act like VZW.

I really had no problem with those 2 apps, as for verizon users, they are extremely useful and actually needed for the way that VZW's business has been set up for a while. It seems like a very small concession to get such a great device on the biggest carrier in the land.
But, as our board member roscuthiii pointed out from another developer blog post,
" Those two applications as has been confirmed on XDA (http://forum.xda-developers.co... are installed in the system folder. The only way they got into the system folder is if a modified version of what's out there for the AOSP on the GIT servers was compiled to include those two applications. Now on to my real concern...this *requires* that all new versions of android be filtered through VERIZON "----( Kirk Spencer)

If that is the case, then I completely stand with you, michael. If that turns out to be much adue about nothing, then I think we are just getting hot n bothered over relatively nothing.

To say that my opinion on the matter hinges on weather what roscuthiii pointed out turns out to be true or not.. would be pretty accurate.

Reply

9. roscuthiii posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:06 1 1

Aww shucks! Thanks for the cred, but I'm merely (unfortunately?) the messenger.

Reply

12. MichaelHeller posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:08 4

For a bit, I thought the same. I thought it would have been better with a Samsung DROID Nexus on Verizon, and a Google Nexus Prime for everyone else, but that just causes more problems and would lead to more calls that it was a type of fragmentation. Google needed a unified release for the device, name and all. Unfortunately, instead of taking ownership, and building Google's name in the market, now all the credit will go to Samsung, because it's just another Galaxy phone.

Reply

28. remixfa posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:25 2 1

there is truth in that.

well, every hand has 2 sides.. on the palm side, most of us like google's "hands off" approach to android for most things. On the reverse, we get mad at google not taking a more apple like control of the situation.
Can we really have both? I would LOVE to see google flex that muscle and nearly 50% market position and push carriers a bit like Apple does... but then they wouldnt be the same company. As much as we want it, it seems like they are acting "googley" and doing what makes their partners "happy", and we are the hippocrits wanting both "hands off" and "more control".

Reply

31. MichaelHeller posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:39 5

Isn't that the point of Nexus? That gives us both. Google is hands off with everything else, but Nexus is all Google.

Reply

55. remixfa posted on 18 Nov 2011, 22:38 3

yea but it is and isnt. Its all google, but google went around the carriers to sell the phone without concession. the original nexus was an exellent phone for its day but it was a sales disaster because of that decision. they then tried to go around the carriers and sell it at best buy.. which was an improvement, but nowhere near what the phone was capable of. they are now... and unfortunately.. bowing to VZW at least slightly to get the phone on the carrier to go head to head with the i4s.

i really want google to act like apple and punch VZW and ATT in the mouth and get them to listen, but thats not google's MO. Who has more pulling power than google? They OWN the smartphone market. iphone this and that, but google has 50% market share with Android.
We cant have both worlds. U can either be an ass like apple, or be hands off like google. The only one that could possibly be in the middle is MS at this point, an they dont have the power/sway to try that.

pardon if im slightly incoherent, as you may or may not have noticed, i was out celebrating with my friends n their engagement. :) hopefully it sounds well thought out. :)

Reply

63. MichaelHeller posted on 19 Nov 2011, 11:52 4

Google may not strong-arm Verizon, but giving up the name of the phone to Samsung is unacceptable.

Reply

44. KingKurogiii posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:34

yeah..i never did like the Galaxy Nexus name nor was i a huge fan of Samsung making it again a second year in a row. i thought Motorola deserved their turn.

Reply

47. MNX1024 posted on 18 Nov 2011, 19:51 1

In my opinion, I wish SE or SONY now made the new Nexus device.

It'd be funny if they decide to call it Xperia Nexus.

Reply

56. remixfa posted on 18 Nov 2011, 22:40 4

the nexus is a showcase.

who had something better to show case than samsung this year? i thought moto was gonna get it last time over samsung. guess we are all wrong. :)

Reply

70. vette21man posted on 23 Nov 2011, 08:29

Agreed, it should go to the best. Even the many-months old SGSII is winning "vs wars" with Motorola's brand new DROID RAZR, so to KingKurogiii, why does Motorola "deserve" their turn? Don't you need to EARN your spot? It shouldn't be willy-nilly given.

Reply

73. KingKurogiii posted on 23 Nov 2011, 13:13

the only way the Galaxy S II is absolutely better is with Exynos the rest is either a win for the Razr or there's trade offs. Motorola has deserved a chance this whole time. there have been rumors of Motorola making the Nexus since the Nexus One. need i remind you who put Android into the spotlight? imagine a Pure Google Experience running on one of Motorola's greatly built handsets and tell me that wouldn't be a win. it would've been great if Motorola did this year's Nexus, Motorola has more experience with the OMAP4 and LTE, Motorola's build quality is pretty superb and the build quality is a big gripe with this Samsung Nexus and if they had gotten Samsung to supply them with HDSA displays for it then they would have made the ideal Android 4.0 Nexus.

Reply

71. vette21man posted on 23 Nov 2011, 08:34 1

Seriously, who cares about a distinct name? I would argue it makes WAY more sense to have a universal name across carriers. iPhone 4S doesn't need iPhone 4S AWESOME on AT&T, and iPhone 4S ASTOUNDING on Verizon................no........it's iPhone 4S no matter what carrier.

They're the same phone, guys. I forget if the Galaxy Nexus will have both GSM and CDMA radios built in, but that would likely be the only possible difference, as all models should support LTE.

Reply

8. biophone posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:03 4

The nexus has always been a different device. They didnt make alot of compromises but they did make some which ultimatly they had too. I do think its for the better but that being said i love the article and couldnt agree more. This is no longer the traditional nexus. Cant wait for the nexus btw.

Reply

16. protozeloz posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:13

Tell me about it I\'ve being reading reviews all over. Compared in terms of speed with the 4S is a great achievement. Camera had being the only down so far. Zero shutter is awesome but should be something that turns on and off to allow the person to decide when they need fast shooting or sharp shooting

Reply

49. biophone posted on 18 Nov 2011, 20:14

Im going to wait for pa's review before i pass judgement on the camerea.

Reply

10. taco50 (banned) posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:07 2 10

Google and Samsung bent over and took it in the rear with this phone. Backup assistant is a horrible program btw. Users should have a choice to download these programs if they want.

Reply

13. Shangri-La posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:11 7 4

"...Users should have a choice .... "

O'rly?

I'm getting an iPhony then..

Reply

25. taco50 (banned) posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:22 1 6

If you want to avoid bloat ware it's looking like your only choice.

Reply

32. MichaelHeller posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:42 5

You are making far too much about the bloatware. Remember, Ice Cream Sandwich lets you remove any app, including bloatware and any stock apps. iPhone's don't let you do that.

Reply

34. taco50 (banned) posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:00 1 4

We will see I have a feeling e carriers may block that. You write two articles about it.

Reply

40. Johnny_Mnemonic posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:10 1 1

@ Shangri. Getting an iphone is not a choice with iPhone there's not such thing as choice you get whatever Apple gives you period.

Reply

41. taco50 (banned) posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:23 5

You could just not get an iPhone.

Reply

72. vette21man posted on 23 Nov 2011, 08:36

Johnny_Mnemonic,

Dude, he was joking.

I'm an iPhone 4 owner and I thumbed him up!!

Reply

14. MichaelHeller posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:12 7

Stripping away the grotesque hyperbole of your comment, the comment would be valid for Google, but what has Samsung given up with this device? Samsung is taking just as much if not more from Google than Verizon is.

Reply

18. taco50 (banned) posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:14 8

Samsung makes the phone so they are allowing the bloat ware too.

Reply

22. Shangri-La posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:19 4 1

Sorry Michael, just couldn't resist.

Appreciate your article, as always.

Reply

43. KingKurogiii posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:32 3

how is Backup Assistant terrible? you enter your pin and you get your contacts back...that's it.

Reply

11. protozeloz posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:08 2

I think Google is trying to make the device available in market people has requested them to do so. That is not an easy task when it comes down to carriers, they like control, and don\'t like companies to be in control by a lot.

It\'s not the same but the iPhone was a small victim of the carriers control. When the Verizon iPhone entered the game it had a a feature the ATT version did not had. Then it was said that the feature was ready long ago but ATT gave it a no. Of course apple did not talked about it. I sometimes feel apple actually has an eternal list of appointments with the carrier to decide what they don\'t want on the iPhone based on what\'s collected they release a device that makes both happy without a word coming outside. The Verizon iPhone also didn\'t got a certain update until some time happened.

Now how I see Google table of features. Its more like an open events and cari

Reply

17. taco50 (banned) posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:13 3

Not really iOS offered tethering in 3.0 and it wasn't a secret. You're right AT&T didn't support.

The differences in software versions between AT&T and Verizon iPhone were mostly due to CDMA vs gsm technology from what I've read. Not carriers blocking features. iPhone has always been free of any carrier bloat ware. They were the ones that managed to get their own app store as well.

Reply

26. protozeloz posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:24

what I'm saying is that it's hard to tell when a new iPhone is release most if not all its features may have already being talked about privately, when Google releases a new OS the list of features they put is public and probably most where not talked out so you end up seeing some restrictions due to carrier.

Reply

15. JeffdaBeat posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:12 3

My hope is with the purchase of Motorola that we start getting more Google branded devices. I know everyone likes their different flavors of Android, but the only way I'd buy one is if it's from Google themselves. Who knows their OS and what it needs for the best experience more than them?

Reply

19. MichaelHeller posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:15 1

I wouldn't support more Google branded devices through Motorola, because that would anger other Android partners. But, I would support Google abolishing MotoBlur for more pure Android devices.

Reply

23. JeffdaBeat posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:20 5

See, my thing is why would they be angry other than because the phones they make are s**t? If Google releases an update for Android, everyone would get it at the same time. Now if Samsung wants to be a layer on top for their devices, then that's fine. They can put time and money into that. I'd agree with you if Google released an update for themselves and waited a month or so before allowing others to use it, but I don't think that's what they're looking to do.

I just wish people had the choice. If I get an Android phone, let me decide whether I want to put carrier apps on there. Let me decide what user interface I want. Allow me to start fresh and build from there. I know everyone hates Apple, but even before the iPhone when I had a Windows Mobile Phone, I would install a ROM that had no bloatware what so ever. All of a sudden, I had a working phone.

Reply

29. protozeloz posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:31 5

I've said that skins should be apps downloaded from the market, if someone wants a skin they find blur or sense depending on their devices on the android market, phones could get updates more directly and skinning should be reduced to apps so both things go faster (android market has tons of filters companies could use to their advantage ), the only thing I've always disliked about bloat is that most are paid (Company X pays Verizon to put an app I don't need in there and gets money from my bill my phone and company X) I'm buying the dam phone F****rs have some respect for what I want or don't want to add on my phone or sell me a phone with no bloat.

Reply

33. MichaelHeller posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:46 2

ICS is getting closer to that. It will let you remove any carrier apps. And, supposedly skins will be handled more like regular apps, which should speed updates. We'll have to see how it all works though.

Reply

38. protozeloz posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:05 2

I understand they want to make the device as usable as they think. I could see an Android device asking the user if the want to install a skin on first run and give the advantages of using Touchiz for example. The user agrees and things go on. Your apps get updated on the market like all the others while they work on porting the new version I can see it making things much faster. And better

Reply

57. remixfa posted on 18 Nov 2011, 22:41 2

jeff,
I completely agree with that.

Reply

64. remixfa posted on 19 Nov 2011, 13:54

i really dont see a big competitive advantage for moto even if google does take direct control. As long as google still posts up the OS on the web for all to use, how does moto have the advantage? HTC has the advantage on current recognition and Samsung has the clear hardware advantage.

Moto's best chance is making a line of high and mid range phones that are straight google experiences. Differentiate by being the "fast update" manufacturer to gain people's trust back.

Reply

27. MorePhonesThanNeeded posted on 18 Nov 2011, 17:25 1

Google won't play favorites with Moto, but I wouldn't be upset if Moto started getting thier asses in gear and getting Android updates in a more timely fashion. Have better interoperability between switching from moto blur to stock android as a user choice would be a great idea.

Reply

37. seanjohnusa91 posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:04

My own two cents...I'm going to go back to something remixfa said earlier. One of the reasons I wanted the Galaxy Nexus is because the Nexus brand said, "OTA updates no more than a week after the release from now until the phone basically can't handle it anymore (more realistically until it gets replaced next year)." With the addition of the bloatware that Verizon is indeed putting on the phone (One of which doesn't satisfy my needs of what i need it to do so I go on the internet anyways and the second of which doesn't really pertain to people who have had android for at least one device IMO

Reply

39. seanjohnusa91 posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:09

the update goes out the window. Basically two apps will turn into many in the upcoming years and even though google's gotta do what google's gotta do, it's still the principle of the fact. Whatever, I'm still getting it because it is a "flagship" but Verizon wins...then, now and forever.

Reply

42. gallitoking posted on 18 Nov 2011, 18:29 3

The Galaxy nexus... pure VzW experience...

Reply

Want to comment? Please login or register.

Hot Phones

  • Samsung Galaxy S4Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Apple iPhone 5Apple iPhone 5
  • Samsung GALAXY Note IISamsung GALAXY Note II
  • HTC OneHTC One
  • Sony Xperia ZSony Xperia Z
  • Google Nexus 4Google Nexus 4
  • LG Optimus GLG Optimus G
  • Nokia Lumia 920Nokia Lumia 920