Google Nexus rumors finally heating up

Finally, the last big round of Fall phone launches is shaping up. Google is changing things up this time, supposedly offering multiple Nexus phones from multiple manufacturers in an effort to increase adoption of the newest OS and combat fragmentation. Having more than one choice is always nice too.

Google Nexus rumors heat up – LG Optimus G Nexus incoming

Summary:

• LG will start things off with an Optimus Nexus. 3 or 4 other manufactures will follow afterwards. Probably Motorola, HTC, Samsung.
• -The LG will have:

  According to reports Google and LG will team up and launch their impressive 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 TrueHD IPS display packing smartphone powered by Qualcomm’s 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, with 2GB of RAM, 32GB storage, and even 64MB cache for media streaming — which will be a requirement for all the Nexus devices. They’re officially calling it the LG Optimus G Nexus — which I think could use some shortening. The rumor also states Google will announce the Nexus program later this month, and the first device will be released in early November — that being the LG Nexus.

• OEM-added skins (Sense, Motoblur, Touchwiz) will become optional for the user through a "customization center."
• The new phones will usher in 4.2, which won't be a major upgrade over 4.1. Features may include:

  These rumors also state Android 4.2 won’t be a massive change over Jelly Bean and instead offer improved power management, better battery life, improved UI tweaks, and a new Google Play Store — as if Google hasn’t changed that enough times already. The most important change could be the multiple homescreens will be changed to a tabbed approach. Overall this is a lot of rumors, tons to read into, and all highly unknown at this point.

I'm glad they're taking steps to reduce fragmentation. Can't wait to see what the other Nexuses... Nexi, or w/e will be like also.

Update - 10" Nexus tablet possibly in the works as well from Samsung:

http://www.latimes.com/business/tech...,3972327.story

motorolas skin barely even exists now. its closest to the stock android experience out of the box. would be interesting to see what LG can do as their phone market isnt really strong and those that have LG phones hate them

I have the Google Nexus S (..made by Samsung) and I really like the phone.

Originally Posted by M3Inline6

I have the Google Nexus S (..made by Samsung) and I really like the phone.

My gf just got that one after finally destroying her old no-case HTC. I really like the nexus S, Jellybean runs well on it. Only $160 from eBay, flawless condition.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by jeffro3000

My gf just got that one after finally destroying her old no-case HTC. I really like the nexus S, Jellybean runs well on it. Only $160 from eBay, flawless condition.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Bimmer App

Your g/f did good!

More details for the OS:

New Nexus Program

Rumor: As previously reported, any manufacturer can produce a Nexus device or a Nexus version of an existing device. They work closely with Google on the hardware and driver details (there is a more efficient solution for this in 5.0), but Google is responsible for the updates (don’t know how the carriers factor in). The phones don’t necessarily have to have “Nexus” as part of their name, it works more like a certificate like “HD Ready”.

The devices have to fulfill some basic requirements. The phone has to ship with a stock version of Android, it needs to have the hardware power to run all “Nexus Games”, and they have to support Google Wallet, aka have NFC.

There are two carrots on a stick that probably make the Nexus brand a huge selling point. Google Play gets expanded with a media streaming service component and there will be games that only work on Nexus devices. The streaming service uses the secure memory, making it harder to pirate the content. No word of the type or source of the media, but it seems to be a big deal.

New Customization Center

Rumor: There is a new Customization Center, where you can change ringtones, language packs, background, launchers, and so on. There is nothing too sophisticated (for now). The center is mainly a convenient way to enable the average customer to do some basic customizations. The range of options can be expanded via Google Play of course. However, there are two new features: templates that change the appearance of all (newly introduced) dynamic icons at once, and post filters that change the appearance of the whole UI – think of Instagram.

The manufacturers may provide their custom UI through the Customization Center, but they don’t have to. When Google upgrades Android and a manufacturer fails to provide a compatible version of their custom UI the device reverts simply to the stock UI (or the user waits with the upgrade until the manufacturer catches up).

New Project Roadrunner

Rumor: There is major effort to improve the battery life called Project Roadrunner.

Updated Google Play

Rumor: Google Play is enhanced with new features like personalized search, optional promotional campaigns with notification center integration, more billing options, and easier in-app micro-transactions.

Updated Google Now

Rumor: Google Now provides help for basic OS functions, aka “Where can I activate bluetooth?” or “How can I tone down the brightness?”, to make it easy for newbies to settle in.

Updated Video Player

Rumor: The stock video player app gets a major revamp and provides new APIs for other video services to tie in.

Source: http://androidandme.com/2012/10/news...ed-google-now/

leaked

It all sounds great. That phone is HUGE!

4.1.2 does make more sense. There were some conflicting reports going around this weekend debunking the 4.2 rumor. Jelly Bean isn't even 4 months old yet. Hopefully there will still be some noticeable improvements.

All I can say from that picture is that it better have ridiculously good battery life to justify being so thick. You could hurt someone with that thing.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Bimmer App

Not impressed with anything LG, should had been made by HTC or Samsung.

Originally Posted by Ynot

Not impressed with anything LG, should had been made by HTC or Samsung.

That's what I was thinking.

Originally Posted by jeffro3000

4.1.2 does make more sense. There were some conflicting reports going around this weekend debunking the 4.2 rumor. Jelly Bean isn't even 4 months old yet. Hopefully there will still be some noticeable improvements.

All I can say from that picture is that it better have ridiculously good battery life to justify being so thick. You could hurt someone with that thing.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Bimmer App

That's what I was thinking. It would need some stacked specs to be worth it. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a massive screen, but there's a point of diminishing returns. At some point I'm not going to be able to fit the phone in my jeans pockets or in my cupholder, and I'm really not going to like that.

Def waiting for Samsung.

Originally Posted by Ynot

Not impressed with anything LG, should had been made by HTC or Samsung.

Judging by the quality of the One X and One X+, an HTC Nexus would be awesome, not to mention they made the nexus one.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Bimmer App

LG's business model has been "be second place behind samsung"
This has been LG's strategy for decades... and it carries over into their smartphones as well
Surprised that google picked LG to build their flagship phone
Google holds a tight rein over the development and production of the nexus branded phones
Google forced samsung to rework the nexus s many times before release... samsung would have released a far inferior product if it had been left up to them
so hopefully the Google/LG collaboration will produce a worthy successor to the nexus line


[bimmer app/galaxy s3]

Some more, this time without the case

Oooooooooooooooooo...My balls are vibrating.

Originally Posted by XKxRome0ox

LG's business model has been "be second place behind samsung"
This has been LG's strategy for decades... and it carries over into their smartphones as well
Surprised that google picked LG to build their flagship phone
Google holds a tight rein over the development and production of the nexus branded phones
Google forced samsung to rework the nexus s many times before release... samsung would have released a far inferior product if it had been left up to them
so hopefully the Google/LG collaboration will produce a worthy successor to the nexus line


[bimmer app/galaxy s3]

This could be Google saying, "Look, here's how you make a good phone. Do it like this."

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Bimmer App

LG Nexus next to the iPhone 5

The change to 1280x768 seems odd, why not just stick to 720p? The extra width is definitely noticeable, not sure about its usefulness though.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Bimmer App