Google planning to work with multiple OEMs for the next Nexus.

[Shake&Bake]

Google is planning on working with multiple OEMs, as many as five, for the next Nexus phone, reports The Wall Street Journal. The phones will all come with the next version of Android (Jelly Bean), will be sold unlocked directly to the customers and will be out by Thanksgiving in the US, just before the holiday season.

This is a major step away from the usual way Google operates for multiple reasons. First of all, the customers will have multiple choices for the Nexus phone. Until now you had to settle for whatever the OEM made for you if you wanted a Nexus phone but now if you don't like one, you can get it from some other OEM. Being Nexus devices, they will be running stock Android ROM and will get all the latest updates first.

Secondly, the carriers have been completely bypassed in this arrangement, with Google selling the phones directly to the customers. This means you will have to pay the full price upfront but will not have to worry about the carrier mucking your phone's software or deciding when you will get the next Android update.

This also dispels the rumors that Google would favor Motorola for making the next Nexus phone, since it is in the process of acquiring Motorola Mobility. This news should put the other OEMs at rest. Then again, they probably know this by now.

We currently have no idea which OEMs Google will be working with. As expected, Google has declined to comment on the matter.

This ought to be exciting!

Source

 

[Ockie]

This ought to be exciting!

Source

I agree. Very excited to see Moto's version of the Nexus (They bloody do one!!!)

Problems that I have with this model is this though:

1. Many people just dont have the money to buy these phones cahs (Nexus phones are normally very expensive)
2. Who will carry the warranty on this phone? If you live in Vredendal, how you going to get your phone repaired? Your network wont be doing it for you.

 

[Elimentals]

I thought something like this was up the cards when they opened the Google Device Store section...

Could only be a good thing:
1 because it will kill all the Motorola rumors
2 you can stick to your OEM of choice and still get a pure phone.

 

[Shake&Bake]

I agree. Very excited to see Moto's version of the Nexus (They bloody do one!!!)

Problems that I have with this model is this though:

1. Many people just dont have the money to buy these phones cahs (Nexus phones are normally very expensive)
2. Who will carry the warranty on this phone? If you live in Vredendal, how you going to get your phone repaired? Your network wont be doing it for you.

I hear you.

On point number 1:
With the 1st Galaxy S, I was torn between it or the current Nexus that came out at the time, for a cash purchase.
I opted for the Galaxy S, which was a few hundred rand cheaper - but my choice was only not down to $$. The lack of expandable storage and no TV Out on that Nexus made no sense to me.
Hopefully now with 5 OEM's someone will get a grip between them and have a phone which covers all the "neccesities".

On Point 2:
Certainly a valid concern.
Perhaps there'll be an agreement that OEM's local/regional/national repair centres will take responsiblity for it.
Or you'll have to courier that sucker to Europe.
The Nexus range attracts a certain target market globally right?
SA may not be high on their (Google and OEM's) radar, but there's got to be an international warranty which should hopefully satisfy both client and OEM, seeing as Google will be selling it directly from the Play Store I assume.
And with them taking ZAR via Play, they sure as hell gotta be ready to take back DOA handsets too

Time will tell.

Now all I wanna know is: When do they plan to launch the next set of Nexus phones? Cos then I'd give the S3 or HTC One X a miss for another 4-5 months.

 

[zamicro]

This is real great news! I really hope someone makes a high spec smaller device as well. I am no fan of the big phones.

 

[Shake&Bake]

Anyone found anymore news on this?
Rumour mill has died down...

 

[backstreetboy]

Anyone found anymore news on this?
Rumour mill has died down...

It was just like the iPhone 5 rumors last year just that a rumor. Confirmed not to be true. I cannot find the link now to the interview sorry.

 

[Shake&Bake]

Sony Xperia S will get vanilla Android as a Google experiment.

All the fans of Sony Xperia S have a darn good reason to smile today. Google has launched an experiment to bring plain vanilla Android to Sony's top shelf smartphone. Jean-Baptiste Query (JBQ), Google's Technical Lead of the Android Open Source Project delivered the good news.

The reason for selecting the Sony Xperia S was simple according to JBQ: "it's a powerful current GSM device, with an unlockable bootloader, from a manufacturer that has always been very friendly to AOSP." Sony of course will have to play a role in the project as well, but given the company's good record with AOSP involvement, we doubt it will be an issue.
Google's project will essentially bring the Sony Xperia S into the privileged fold of the Nexus family of devices - a mighty great perspective, which is bound to make the handset a lot more attractive.

Source

Well - it kinda lends itself to what may be forthcoming?

 

[backstreetboy]

Source

Well - it kinda lends itself to what may be forthcoming?

Thanks for the share. Now sad I didn't get a Sony Xperia S :-(.

Edit: I see it has a FM radio. Thought Google/AOSP hated FM radios?

Edit2: I think Sony or Ericsson to be exact put a request in for a FM radio .apk long ago. Maybe we will see it come to light? Very interesting.

 

[JimboBob]

I'm surprised the Nexus range is not more popular than it is. I assume it comes down to marketing or lack there of, but honestly speaking, I've come from a long line of Nokia's to Samsung (GS) and played with GS2\3, Sony, HTC and I can confidently say that the Galaxy Nexus is a brilliant phone, the best part of the from the design side has to be the button-less plain black face which is an eye catcher, I could seriously use this phone for more than 2 years but I think a huge part of the enjoyment of the phone is JellyBean.

And sorry to say, bigger phones are the future. Hell, even 'we invented everything' Apple is going bigger or should that read longer...best to start looking for a small big phone.

 

[MarchantV]

HTC One X as a Nexus device would be my heaven also maybe using the Snapdragon S4 processor as it seems like it gives more battery life as compaired to the Tegra 3. As a owner of a Galaxy Nexus the screen kills the battery although I love it still.

 

[Shake&Bake]

First images of LG Optimus G Nexus land online.

Nearly a dozen photos arrived online late last night, which could prove to be our first glimpses of the fabled LG Optimus G Nexus. Surfacing in a number of places all around the same time, the photos show an LG device that bears a striking resemblance to the curvy Galaxy Nexus.
According to the source of one leak, the phone is code named Mako, runs Android 4.1.2, and carries a model number of E960. Able to run on both AT&T and T-Mobile, this seemingly confirms an unlocked GSM model that will be sold in the Google Play store. Matching the code name up with previous benchmarks, it's likely that the phone features a Qualcomm 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with Adreno 320 GPU.

A second source provided another four images of an LG E960, however, the device uses a different form factor. When compared with the other photos, the phone is a little more rounded in the corners. It's possible that this gadget may be more of a final design while the other images show the phone housed in a plastic shell or case. As most of you know, this wouldn't be the first time a handset maker went to lengths to disguise a handset.

With only a few weeks to go before the so-called Optimus G Nexus is announced, it would not surprise me to see a flood of details hit the Internet concerning this device. As one of the biggest Android releases of the year, the phone should boast a Snapdragon quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, a 1,280x768-pixel True-High Definition IPS display, and an 8-megapixel camera.

CNET

Some more pics from xdaforums:

Here's a guy on xda that says he has the prototype: Link

Specs according to that guy are:

CPU: core quad ARMv7 1.5GHz
RAM: 2 GB
Memory: 8GB (and I haven't found SD slot)
GPU: Adreno 320
Android version: JellyBeanMR1
Kernel 3.4.0
Screen: 768x1184 (320 dpi)
Camera: 8 MPx

8GB Memory? :wtf:

Still dunno how legit this guy is - will have to wait and see if he posts more pics up.

Rumourmill - Phillip! He is here!