Who loves a round of good rumors? We haven’t heard too many this time around regarding the next Google Nexus smartphone but it looks like things are about to change on that front. Last year we were knee deep in Galaxy Nexus and “Nexus Prime” rumors, but this year things have been quiet. The most recent reports are on the LG Optimus G becoming the next Nexus — along with 3-4 others to follow all this year. Lets take a look.
Now lets start with the idea of multiple Nexus devices. Back in May the Wall Street Journal posted rumors that Google will adopt a Nexus Program and let multiple manufacturers all participate and create their own Nexus — which would be awesome. We even wrote our own column asking for a Nexus Certification Program. We’ve slowly been hearing more and more on that front, but these new details make it sound highly likely. Now obviously these are nothing but rumors at this point, but coming from Taylor at AndroidandMe, who’s been right in the past, we’re getting a little excited.
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.
The other exciting news is the Nexus program won’t be locked to one OEM each year. Instead the new Nexus devices can come from multiple manufacturers and Google will be introducing a “customization center” in Android 4.2 (either Jelly Bean still, or Key Lime Pie) where the manufacturer can use their own custom skin if they chose but it will be optional. This means you can run stock Android or choose to use the custom skins like TouchWiz from Sammy, Sense UI from HTC, Blur from Moto, etc. That’s something I’ve been waiting for since the first Nexus — and would love to see that approach seriously put into effect.
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.
In the end multiple manufacturers can join in on the Nexus fun, will be required to support the customization center if they want their skins included in Android, must offer 64MB cache for media streaming (which will learn more on soon I’m sure) as well as be fully prepared to support Android 5.0 next year. We are being told Andy Rubin will unveil the Nexus Program at the end of October at the AllThingsD: Dive event, and then they’ll announce the next Nexus in November with LG, and more will follow. Get ready to buy some Nexus phones from the Google Play Store folks.
Thoughts, comments, or concerns?
So cool.
Why won’t they make Motorola Nexus? I think it would be quite logical…
I’m sure that’s coming eventually too. Don’t want to seem like they’re giving Moto an advantage I’m sure.
A nexus program as above would be amazing!
then worst gpu worst manufacter same res… mmmm dont know about this…
don’t forget that is one of many. There’s still rumors of the 1920×1080 HTC device
that tickles my taste buds
I suppose it will be 57 inches as well? WHAT FOR? Excessively high resolution does nothing except reduce graphical performance.
Worst GPU?
Customization center sounds great, but “as well as be fully prepared to support Android 5.0 next year” makes it sound like updates would be handled by the manufacturer.
That would definitely not be good news.
No we mean their skin or “theme” in this case in the Nexus customization center will also have to support 5.0
OH
Well that would be fine then.
Really? So your saying that Google will handle the software updates and certification process? I highly doublt that they will if they will let anyone relase a nexus if they live up to the specs. then they all would just release Nexuses and let google handle the costs of updating the software.
So the manufacturer will be in charge of updating their Nexus hence killing the Nexus series. There will be no more releases that will get updated within 1-2 weeks like JB. It will be in months instead.
Nexus RIP.
This sounds amazing. I’m glad Google is taking this approach. So long as all the updates are handled by Google alone then this new nexus program cannot fail. Best part of all this is there will be much less fragmentation because Google would push out the newest OS version to all the nexus phones. As for which phone i’ll most likely buy….that’ll most likely be the rumored HTC Nexus 5. That phone sounds like the cream of the crop in terms of nexus phones. I’m so psyched!
🙂
This sounds amazing. I’m glad Google is taking this approach. So long as all the updates are handled by Google alone then this new nexus program cannot fail. Best part of all this is there will be much less fragmentation because Google would push out the newest OS version to all the nexus phones. As for which phone i’ll most likely buy….that’ll most likely be the rumored HTC Nexus 5. That phone sounds like the cream of the crop in terms of nexus phones. I’m so psyched!
🙂
It would disgust me to no end if google allowed hardware vendors to include their vile bloat. If anything, create a “skin” interface and absolutely restrict them to that. To simple GRAPHICAL changes. DO NOT allow them to make the insidious and destructive changes to the framework as they have done in the past. At least with this approach, it could be entirely eradicated rather than having to suffer with it.
Would be totally optional for the user. Use pure Android as is or customize it with the OEM options if you want. No framework changes will be allowed, I’m sure. It’ll only be like a optional launcher or some stuff you can download from the OEM’s custom app store.
64 MB media cache is meaningless. Its called RAM. This rumor is that there’s 2000 MB of that. I would be very disappointed if the next nexus matches this description. Its just a rectangle with a touchscreen, nothing special.
How about some better features, like a size that can actually fit in your hand? A slide-out keyboard instead of those impossible virtual keyboards that require your undivided focus to punch out just 4 characters?
Here’s an idea… make the SAMSUNG RELAY the next “Nexus”, scrap the boatware and it is the best phone on the market right now.
I’m actually about to review that phone.. Yea it’s nice but that hardware keyboard is absolutely TERRIBLE if you ask me. I’ve used much better.
Cannot wait.
In our opinion cannibalization, confusion and further fragmentation will happen with this approach. Our users are big fans of Android, but the heavy skinning by OEM’s have given an inconsistent user experience. Now if everyone jumps into the Nexus line(we believe that should happen) then for a while there will be problems but the user experience will be consistent. The issue remains how will the OEM’s make a profit without their skins ? We are planning to have all Nexus devices available for nineteen only.
In our opinion this approach will cause short term confusion, cannibalization and further fragmentation. Our users are Android fans but have had inconsistent user experiences so far due to heavy skinning. We ourselves decided not to carry the non Nexus branded Optimus G in favor of Nexus. Eventually the Nexus experience is the best.