Nexus Phones no longer a Nexus?

[ComputerBox34]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...ay-waits-may-be-longer-based-on-your-carrier/

Basically, Google updated their language saying that carriers now have the right to stop them from rolling out OTA updates to phones running on their respective networks.

This doesn't stop you from side loading whatever the hell you want. As long as the bootloaders remain unlocked, the devices will remain "free." However, if that is taken away in future devices, then the Nexus "program" is truly dead.

I don't like it - something tells me that Google is walking on glass right now by making 1 phone compatible with all 4 carriers.

 

[xJ321x]

This makes me wonder if the Nexus 6 came out on Verizon would Verizon lock it down and bloat it up. Anyone know? Or is that the reason it's not out yet?

 

[felt]

1 phone, compatible with all carriers, sounds good to me as a consumer!

 

[Domini]

I dont think its wrong to hold back the release for carrier specific software. Usually you have to wait 2-3 weeks to get the update anyway based on how google releases it. If many people use that specific software and they find out its broken, whose fault is that? The carrier

Its still a hell of lot sooner since you aren't waiting on the manufacture to create their own android image for their phone

 

[Zorachus]

Used to be a big Nexus phone fan, owned the first four in a row; Nexus-One...Nexus-S...Galaxy Nexus...Nexus 4.

But then the Nexus 5 coming with that small battery size, and shit battery life, made me stop buying them, even though it was based off the G2 with a huge 3,000mAh battery, they gimped it. And the Nexus 6 being some crazy huge giant phone, with average battery life, and double the price tag of typical Nexus phones, has kept me away.

I own the OnePlus One, which to me feels more like a Nexus phone, than the Nexus 6. The OnePlus One is in the Nexus price range of $349, it is shaped and designed like a combination of the Nexus 4 + Nexus 5, just larger, it runs an OS that feels damn near stock, and has tons of AOSP ROM's out for it. And the screen is large, but not crazy huge like the 6.

 

[Erasmus354]

Used to be a big Nexus phone fan, owned the first four in a row; Nexus-One...Nexus-S...Galaxy Nexus...Nexus 4.

But then the Nexus 5 coming with that small battery size, and shit battery life, made me stop buying them, even though it was based off the G2 with a huge 3,000mAh battery, they gimped it. And the Nexus 6 being some crazy huge giant phone, with average battery life, and double the price tag of typical Nexus phones, has kept me away.

I own the OnePlus One, which to me feels more like a Nexus phone, than the Nexus 6. The OnePlus One is in the Nexus price range of $349, it is shaped and designed like a combination of the Nexus 4 + Nexus 5, just larger, it runs an OS that feels damn near stock, and has tons of AOSP ROM's out for it. And the screen is large, but not crazy huge like the 6.

Typical Nexus price tag, you seem to have a selective memory hoss.

Nexus One: $529
Nexus S: $529
Galaxy Nexus: $299 ON CONTRACT, $399 unlocked 6 months after release
Nexus 4: $299 / $349
Nexus 5: $349
Nexus 6: $649


Seems to me the Nexus 6 is sort of reverting to the norm of the first 3 nexus phones in terms of pricing. Keeping in mind that the Nexus 6 is a phablet more than a phone and those have always carried a price premium.

 

[TMCM]

people forget that the first 3 Nexus phones were priced the same as other highend off contract phones. The Nexus 4 was the first Nexus phone that was stupid cheap

 

[aarcam]

I was actually thinking about this the other day. With the rumor of project Silver and then the rumors of Nexus going away we arrive at where we are today. I cant speak to what project Silver was suppose to be, but in my mind it was reaching out to the carriers, ie visibility.

Google looked at the Nexus line and project Silver and took a little form column A and a little from column B and we have the Nexus 6. But your question still stands; sure they called it a Nexus, but in my mind its not in the same line as the other Nexus devices in terms of openness and the pure experience. This, however, is what Google felt they needed to do. I only had the Nexus 4, but I enjoyed the ride while it lasted.

Nothing wrong with where they are going, its just the evolution of things. One+1 has stepped up to fill the void (even before the void was officially there!) as a potential 'Nexus' type experience while Google is in search of finding their new phone identity.

 

[CHANG3D]

Nothing wrong with where they are going, its just the evolution of things. One+1 has stepped up to fill the void (even before the void was officially there!) as a potential 'Nexus' type experience while Google is in search of finding their new phone identity.

OnePlus has said that they are selling the One "at cost" (assuming little to no net profit not just the bill of material and manufacturing) due to them wanting to make a name of itself. Its sequel phone will cost more, says recent news. So OnePlus definitely isn't "stepping up." It's brand recognition marketing. Who here has wanted to buy a phone from Oppo before OnePlus did this?

 

[marshac]

1 phone, compatible with all carriers, sounds good to me as a consumer!

Just like the Galaxy Nexus! Oh....wait.... that totally sucked for Verizon customers.

Seriously, I can't believe that AGAIN we have a terrible Nexus launch with devices back-ordered into next year (assuming you can even back-order). I used a N6 the other day and I'm honestly glad I didn't wait... the device is fast and responsive with what seems to be a decent camera, but my god... it's HUGE. I knew it was going to be big, but seriously... one handed use is simply not possible. Considering that Google seems to have a knack for lean usable interfaces I wonder why they felt they needed 6" on a phone designed for finger-based input.

 

[marshac]

OnePlus has said that they are selling the One "at cost" (assuming little to no net profit not just the bill of material and manufacturing) due to them wanting to make a name of itself. Its sequel phone will cost more, says recent news. So OnePlus definitely isn't "stepping up." It's brand recognition marketing. Who here has wanted to buy a phone from Oppo before OnePlus did this?

To say nothing about what's going on with Cyanogen- will their deals stop with India? Who knows. Will you WANT to run OnePlus' non-Cyanogen firmware any more than you would want to use Tizen?

As for Oppo... it's still poop spelled inside out. I just can't look past that.

 

[aarcam]

OnePlus has said that they are selling the One "at cost" (assuming little to no net profit not just the bill of material and manufacturing) due to them wanting to make a name of itself. Its sequel phone will cost more, says recent news. So OnePlus definitely isn't "stepping up." It's brand recognition marketing. Who here has wanted to buy a phone from Oppo before OnePlus did this?

Valid point. By stepping up I just meant that they were now the guys on the block selling stacked hardware for bargain prices, motives aside. OnePlus certainly did make a splash, lets see what happens with CM bailing and branching out in India.

I would contend that Google was doing the same thing with the N4 and N5, selling them at a price below their market value to gain exposure/buzz. It either didnt work or accomplished what they wanted and have now decided to move in a new direction.

 

[Erasmus354]

Valid point. By stepping up I just meant that they were now the guys on the block selling stacked hardware for bargain prices, motives aside. OnePlus certainly did make a splash, lets see what happens with CM bailing and branching out in India.

I would contend that Google was doing the same thing with the N4 and N5, selling them at a price below their market value to gain exposure/buzz. It either didnt work or accomplished what they wanted and have now decided to move in a new direction.

OnePlus is more like a drop in the bucket than a splash. Complaining about devices being on backorder for the N6 when they have probably shipped more than the OnePlus already.

 

[Zorachus]

Just like the Galaxy Nexus! Oh....wait.... that totally sucked for Verizon customers.

Seriously, I can't believe that AGAIN we have a terrible Nexus launch with devices back-ordered into next year (assuming you can even back-order). I used a N6 the other day and I'm honestly glad I didn't wait... the device is fast and responsive with what seems to be a decent camera, but my god... it's HUGE. I knew it was going to be big, but seriously... one handed use is simply not possible. Considering that Google seems to have a knack for lean usable interfaces I wonder why they felt they needed 6" on a phone designed for finger-based input.

Totally agree

I don't really mind the $650 price tag, if I was getting something I wanted, but 6" is way to frigging big. To me, 5.5" is the absolute largest size I can still one hand barely, any larger and I just don't want it.

I would much rather the Nexus 6 been based off the Moto Droid Turbo, with a 5.2" size screen, huge 3,900mAh battery, beautiful high res DPI screen, and a phone that's easy to one hand. And all of that running stock Lollipop, would be an amazing phone for $650. And the 5.2" screen size would make sense for a Nexus 6, with the Nexus 5 being 5", and Nexus 4 being 4.7", to me the Nexus 6 at 5.2" makes more sense, with each version being slightly larger than the previous. But making the HUGE jump from 5" to 6" makes no sense.

And again the 6" QHD Display is a battery killer, again another Nexus phone with average battery life, not amazing like the Droid Turbo or OnePlus.

Does Google not really think this through before producing the phone ? Battery life is a major deal today, and if they were dealing with Motorola on the new Nexus phone, why not use their great MAXX battery technology, and not go so freakishly huge on the screen.

 

[Vermillion]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...ay-waits-may-be-longer-based-on-your-carrier/

Basically, Google updated their language saying that carriers now have the right to stop them from rolling out OTA updates to phones running on their respective networks.

This doesn't stop you from side loading whatever the hell you want. As long as the bootloaders remain unlocked, the devices will remain "free." However, if that is taken away in future devices, then the Nexus "program" is truly dead.

I don't like it - something tells me that Google is walking on glass right now by making 1 phone compatible with all 4 carriers.

This is likely due to the recent fiasco of iPhone's being screwed by the latest update because of bad radios or something. The carriers care more about keeping people happy then bending over to the likes of Google/Apple.

Nexus is still Nexus. Nexus is pure Android with a much better update experience then others.

This makes me wonder if the Nexus 6 came out on Verizon would Verizon lock it down and bloat it up. Anyone know? Or is that the reason it's not out yet?

Most likely getting bloated up like the Galaxy Nexus was.

people forget that the first 3 Nexus phones were priced the same as other highend off contract phones. The Nexus 4 was the first Nexus phone that was stupid cheap

Bingo. And Nexus 4 and 5 being cheaper was apparent when looking at things like camera picture quality. My N6 takes far better pictures then my N5 could ever hope to.

Totally agree

I don't really mind the $650 price tag, if I was getting something I wanted, but 6" is way to frigging big. To me, 5.5" is the absolute largest size I can still one hand barely, any larger and I just don't want it.

I would much rather the Nexus 6 been based off the Moto Droid Turbo, with a 5.2" size screen, huge 3,900mAh battery, beautiful high res DPI screen, and a phone that's easy to one hand. And all of that running stock Lollipop, would be an amazing phone for $650. And the 5.2" screen size would make sense for a Nexus 6, with the Nexus 5 being 5", and Nexus 4 being 4.7", to me the Nexus 6 at 5.2" makes more sense, with each version being slightly larger than the previous. But making the HUGE jump from 5" to 6" makes no sense.

And again the 6" QHD Display is a battery killer, again another Nexus phone with average battery life, not amazing like the Droid Turbo or OnePlus.

Does Google not really think this through before producing the phone ? Battery life is a major deal today, and if they were dealing with Motorola on the new Nexus phone, why not use their great MAXX battery technology, and not go so freakishly huge on the screen.

Blah blah blah.

Size is subjective. Don't like it? Get something else. I happen to love the size of the Nexus 6. Using my wife's Nexus 5 is almost foreign like to me now. It's too small, but that's just MY personal preference. You may not like the size but plenty of others out there do.

What are you talking about "battery life is a major deal today"? Please nobody gives a crap anymore unless you're talking smartwatch.

If anybody has battery life issues (rogue apps eating it alive aside) they're doing it wrong. What do you possibly do that prevents you from accessing a charger?

I have 2 chargers in my bedroom. I have two chargers in my family room. A wireless charger in the family room. A charger in my man cave. A charger in each car (both with 2 USB cables). A charger at work and two more chargers in my "junk" drawer at home just sitting there. After all these years of smartphones I'm flooded with chargers. I've never had to go buy one. I just keep them around and plug right in. Battery life.. Pfft who cares anymore.

 

[Grazehell]

Used to be a big Nexus phone fan, owned the first four in a row; Nexus-One...Nexus-S...Galaxy Nexus...Nexus 4.

But then the Nexus 5 coming with that small battery size, and shit battery life, made me stop buying them, even though it was based off the G2 with a huge 3,000mAh battery, they gimped it. And the Nexus 6 being some crazy huge giant phone, with average battery life, and double the price tag of typical Nexus phones, has kept me away.

I own the OnePlus One, which to me feels more like a Nexus phone, than the Nexus 6. The OnePlus One is in the Nexus price range of $349, it is shaped and designed like a combination of the Nexus 4 + Nexus 5, just larger, it runs an OS that feels damn near stock, and has tons of AOSP ROM's out for it. And the screen is large, but not crazy huge like the 6.

The nexus 4 has worse battery life than the nexus 5. What are you complaining about?
Cyanogen roms have proven to be buggy and unstable. I am not going to make a touchy Android and more touchy with that thing on my phone.

The Nexus is a phone also aimed at developers and the current market trend is big phones. Google is offering developers a clean platform to develop their apps for where the market is heading.