This just in: “no plans” for Google Play edition LG G2

posted by Chris P. / Aug 08, 2013, 7:58 AM

This just in: “no plans” for Google Play edition LG G2

As is the case with most newthings, it is only once the dust settles down that we get to see thefull picture. In the case of LG'snewest flagship, theG2, this means that we already have the first thing that isn'tgoing to be so great about it: no Google Play edition:

”Asof right now, LG doesn’t have any plans for a Google Play Edition.The focus for the G2 is penetration through carriers. That howevercould change down the road.”said Ken Hong with LG PR.

GooglePlay edition smartphones, along with Google's Nexus line ofsmartphones and tablets are a special class of Android devices thatrun a wholly stock experience. You probably guessed that this, apartfrom the inherent smooth, as-intended experience, also spells outfaster updates for such devices, making them a more and more popularchoice. Samsung and HTC have already followed suit with GooglePlay editions of the Galaxy S4 and One, respectively, with Sonyrumored to become the third manufacturer to offer one. In fact,the latest Nexus smartphone, the Nexus 4, was assembled under LG'svery roof.

So why is theSouth Korean manufacturer denying a similar treatment for its new badboy? While this classifies as pure speculation, we see severalpossible reasons. Ifthe rumor mill has the truth of it, LG may be on track tomanufacture the Nexus 5, said to be based on the G2. A Google Playedition G2, then, wouldn't make too much sense as it would simply eatinto and cannibalize a portion of the Nexus 5's sales.

Ona different note, while this is official, we are rather reluctant togo ahead and despair – the more attentive of you may remember thatHTC also denied that aGoogle Play-flavored edition of the all-aluminum flagship is coming.And see how that turned out!

via: AndroidCommunity

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Display 5.2" 1080 x 1920 pixels

Camera 13 MP / 2.1 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, Quad-core, 2260 MHz

Storage 32 GB

Battery 3000 mAh(21.3h 3G talk time)

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28 Comments

1. WHoyton1

Posts: 1635; Member since: Feb 21, 2013

Nooooooo...the only thing i really disliked about this beast is the UI :( however there is nova launcher still or even cyanogenmod....

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:06 AM 0

11. Mittal

Posts: 494; Member since: Dec 14, 2011

Companies need to pay more attention to the default wallpaper they market the devices with. The one we are seeing above is PATHETIC!! doesnt give a good impression.. and they need to change the icons and fonts BIG TIME!! Im sure they realize that.. how much does it cost to hire a relevant person for that ... The clock widget we see above is very sad! HTC is excellent in that respect

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 9:08 AM 4

20. whysoserious

Posts: 318; Member since: Jul 20, 2012

So much for Samsung's "cartoonish" TouchWiz.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 2:41 PM 0

26. promise7

Posts: 894; Member since: Jul 03, 2013

all of those can be changed. the g2 has other "themes" and icons preset into the phone u can individually change. wallpaper and clock widgets anyone with minimal experience can change. u can also easily change the ui w/ a launcher (nova, apex, holo, go, etc). that is a little more work, but can still easily be done. a lot of the ui is customizable and that's what i think sets the g/pro/g2 out from the rest. i think they're going in the right direction.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 6:23 PM 0

27. Mittal

Posts: 494; Member since: Dec 14, 2011

yess ppl know all that but why not give something better by default is my question! Many un-geeky users do a hands on in the stores to see how a device looks and feels The default wallpaper, icons, transition effects, fluidity of the interface would make an impact on the buyer The other day i was checking out the Xperia Z and found the home navigation transitions stuttering and i was like duhhh... i knew this is just an optimisation issue, but something leaving a bad taste in the mouth

posted on Aug 09, 2013, 2:15 AM 0

12. TheLolGuy

Posts: 483; Member since: Mar 05, 2013

Bam! What did I say? If rumors are true, (which, thanks to the internet, seem to be more accurate than not these days...) then its because a Nexus 4/5 will be based on the design principles of the G2. That is practically a Google Play edition in itself, except with a Nexus branding will come with a semi-subsidized price. Although if it has matching or similar specs I'm thinking it will probably have a bump up in price to ~400 this time.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 9:12 AM 0

21. Shatter

Posts: 2036; Member since: May 29, 2013

Why would it be $400 the nexus 4 was almost a direct copy of the Optimus G specs wise.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 3:45 PM 0

2. GrmanR

Posts: 41; Member since: Apr 09, 2013

This is pretty much the only phone GP edition makes sense on...

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:09 AM 0

4. roldefol

Posts: 4745; Member since: Jan 28, 2011

Unless, as the article suggests, the Nexus 5 is coming this fall with G2 hardware at a subsidized price.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:17 AM 0

10. Sesameopen

Posts: 109; Member since: Aug 02, 2013

BURN!!

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:44 AM 0

3. tedkord

Posts: 17481; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

That's what HTC dais about the One a month before the One GP was announced.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:11 AM 0

5. boosook

Posts: 1442; Member since: Nov 19, 2012

This could also mean that the Nexus 5 will be based on the G2... ;-)

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:23 AM 0

16. alila2

Posts: 169; Member since: Nov 01, 2011

5 inch screen or under, same bezel and at least 32 GB, then yes hopefully.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 9:56 AM 0

22. Shatter

Posts: 2036; Member since: May 29, 2013

Meh, the G2 is barley bigger than the s4 and its 5.2" G2: 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 mm S4: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm Reducing bezel does a lot.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 4:04 PM 0

6. dancorcal

Posts: 39; Member since: Jan 23, 2013

Its the Nexus 5...I hope

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:25 AM 0

7. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

Com LG please your PHONE will be a killer seller if u make a GOOGLE EDITION. no one likes custom manufactures UI.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:27 AM 0

8. roldefol

Posts: 4745; Member since: Jan 28, 2011

No one likes unsubsidized pricing either. A $600 LG Google Edition will in no way be a killer seller. It would likely lag behind the piddly sales of the One and S4 GEs.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:29 AM 2

9. spideyhead256

Posts: 148; Member since: Nov 05, 2012

lol :P obviously cause chances are the next nexus phone would be based on the G2!

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 8:30 AM 0

13. Cha7520

Posts: 222; Member since: Oct 31, 2010

LG you SUCK!

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 9:24 AM 0

14. softfurryanus

Posts: 232; Member since: Jul 09, 2013

At least LG's UI shouldn't have a chance to lag with that S800. Still, only thing LG has done wrong so far IMO.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 9:43 AM 0

23. Shatter

Posts: 2036; Member since: May 29, 2013

If a manufacturer manages to make a laggy phone with a snapdragon 800 they deserve the failure of the year award.

posted on Aug 08, 2013, 4:30 PM 0

25. jan25

Posts: 470; Member since: Feb 26, 2012

Actually a laggy OS will mostly need a software treatment. OEMs bloat their skins to the extent the hardware can't keep up with the amount of half baked features. Manufactures need to focus more on building a stable and coherent ui instead of the gimmicks they market.