Next week is new-Nexus time. At release date, we expect two new Google Android devices to be available.
And now we know what they'll be called. But why the giddy excitement about a couple of "developer" phones?
Pure Android—with no weird, vendor-specific addons. And fast updates to the latest OS builds.
In IT Blogwatch, bloggers can't wait.
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment.
[Developing story: Updated 4:40 am PT with more comment]
Michael Crider confirms the rumors with pictures:
It's a little less than a week until Google reveals its new Nexus devices...but as seems to happen every year, we know pretty much every detail beforehand. ... A rumor last week suggested that LG's 5.2-inch [phone] would be called the Nexus 5X, and that Huawei's 5.7-inch flagship would go by Nexus 6P.
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And now we wait. MORE
So Collen Kriel adds:
Google is expected to reveal this year’s new Nexus smartphones – one from LG and one from Huawei – at an event in San Francisco on September 29.
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The LG Nexus 5X is expected to come with a 5.2-inch...1080p display and feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 chipset made up of a dual-core ARM Cortex A57 at up to 2 GHz and quad-core A53 with 64-bit support, Adreno 418 GPU, LTE, 3GB of RAM, 16GB and 32GB onboard storage options...2700mAh battery...USB Type-C port...12.3-megapixel rear camera...5-megapixel front-facing shooter...all metal body, front-facing speakers, and a fingerprint sensor. MORE
And the 6P? Chance "trouble" Miller grinds rumors in t' mill: [You're fired -Ed.]
The Huawei-made Nexus 6P is expected to feature a 5.7-inch display with a 1440p resolution. ... On the front of the device are front-facing speakers. ... On the back you’ll find a rear-facing camera with flash hosted on an oddly-placed black bar, reminiscent of the design of some of Motorola’s early Droid RAZR phones. Other than that, the back houses a Nexus logo, Huawei branding, and a fingerprint sensor.
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Other expected specifications of the Nexus 6P include a Snapdragon 810 processor and a USB Type-C charging port. The device is expected to come in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB variants. MORE
Personally, Matt Smith is really happy:
Personally I'm really happy with this approach and hope they keep doing 2 Nexus models every time. ... The current Nexus 6, a device which by all accounts didn't set the world a light with sales numbers...is the single greatest mobile device I've ever owned. ... I love the size of it and now really struggle to use a smaller screen.
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My fear was that due to the less than stellar reception...Google wouldn't attempt another 6 inch device, meaning...I'd have had to consider another manufacturer's device with some horrific abomination of Android on it (I'm looking at you, Samsung.) MORE
Meanwhile, George repeats the standard Nexus-hater mantra:
No SD card slot, no sale. MORE
Update: Larry Dignan tends to agree, saying Nexus ain't all that any more:
These devices are expected to be reference smartphones with the key selling point being a "pure Android experience." ... When Google first launched the Nexus program there was little doubt that a pure Android experience was better. Smartphone makers added a lot of crapware and bloat.
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[But] today, the gap has closed. ... Even Samsung has cut back. ... Pure Android isn't perfect by any stretch. ... There's something to be said for the testing smartphone makers and carriers conduct.
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The pure Android edge just isn't what it used to be. MORE
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