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Google To Take 'Apple-Like' Control Over Nexus Phones (droid-life.com)

Posted by timothy on from the and-that's-saying-something dept.

Soulskill writes: According to a (paywalled) report in The Information, Google CEO Sundar Pichai wants the company to take greater control over development of their Nexus smartphones. When producing Nexus phones, Google has always partnered with manufacturers, like Samsung, LG, and HTC, who actually built the devices. Rather than creating a true revenue stream, Google's main goal has been to provide a reference for what Android can be like without interference from carriers and manufacturers. (For example, many users are frustrated by Samsung's TouchWiz skin, as well as the bloatware resulting from deals with carriers.

But now, Google appears to want more control. The report indicates Google wants to do a better job of competing throughout the market. They want to compete with Apple on the high end, but also seem concerned that manufacturers haven't put enough effort into quality budget phones. The article at Droid-Life argues, "We all know that Nexus phones will never be household items until Google puts some marketing dollars behind them. Will a top-to-bottom approach finally push them to do that?"

9 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. Nexus aren't satisfactory by Stormwatch · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I would not buy a phone without a microSD slot, and the Nexus line fails by not including such an essential feature.

    But, more important than that: Google definitely should put more pressure on manufacturers and carriers to keep the phones' OS updated for longer.

    --
    Circumcision is child abuse.
    1. Re:Nexus aren't satisfactory by youngone · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I disagree with both Microlith and Stormwatch.

      Any phone without a micro SD card slot and a removable battery is of no use to me at all, and I will not buy.

      The really fortunate thing with the whole Android range is that Microlith, Stormwatch and I can each buy the phone we want, with the features we need, usually at the price we wish to pay as wel..

      There are other types of smartphone too, they don't have the same range of different models, but some people seem to like them.

      As far as security goes, the manufacturers are hopeless at providing updates, but for the tech-savvy consumer, updates can be installed, with a small amount of messing around and a custom ROM. I know that's not ideal, and to vast majority of people won't be able to do it, but it is an option.

    2. Re:Nexus aren't satisfactory by Dorianny · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I would not buy a phone without a microSD slot, and the Nexus line fails by not including such an essential feature.

      But, more important than that: Google definitely should put more pressure on manufacturers and carriers to keep the phones' OS updated for longer.

      One persons essential features are another's rarely used amenities. Features such as microSD slots or removable batteries take space and as such they come with the trade-offs of added bulk or smaller battery. Fortunately unlike apple's iPhone family the android ecosystem is open and there are a plethora of devices out there to satisfy most peoples needs and budgets

    3. Re:Nexus aren't satisfactory by fustakrakich · · Score: 3, Insightful

      A removable battery is a necessary safety feature, and the only way to ensure the phone is powered off.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  2. Fuck you Pikachu! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    You couldn't make a decent phone if you tried

  3. Re:I can think of one way to make them better. by sexconker · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As much as I hate it, that ship has sailed.
    Touch screens suuuuuuuuuuuuuuck for input.

  4. Apple-like control by Ritz_Just_Ritz · · Score: 1, Insightful

    No more SD slot: check
    No user-replaceable battery: check

    I'll be sticking with the LG G4 until a better alternative comes along that doesn't do one of the above.

    Nothing like being forced into consuming their cloud storage so that they can better mine my personal data to jam even more "targeted ads" down my throat.

    No thanks. Wake me up when it's over.

  5. Re:timothy timothy, who the fuck is timothy? by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why is "timothy" the author of ALL articles on the front page right now?

    Bit late to the party, aren't you? Timothy has been the author of every front page article since last Friday.

  6. Didn't google do this already? by Cute+Fuzzy+Bunny · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Didn't they own Motorola and have complete control? Then got rid of that because it made all of the other phone makers feel bad?

    What makes a Nexus phone different from an iphone? Neither has an SD card or replaceable battery, yet the Nexus always seems to be about half the price.

    I've never had to replace a battery in a phone before it was old and slow and not what I wanted anymore.

    I'm rarely out of wifi range AND need direct and immediate access to tons of data, nor have I ever filled up a 32GB phone with what I want to take with me.