In case you all missed the crazy news from Google I/O today, Samsung and Google have teamed up and will be offering a GALAXY S 4 “Google Edition”. What is that? A completely stock Google device from the folks at Samsung, and it will be as developer friendly as they come. However, in light of the news many are wondering about HTC. Here’s what they had to say.
My first thought, after the excitement faded about a stock Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean GALAXY S 4, was if HTC would also do the same. We immediately reached out to our friends at HTC for comment, and sadly we didn’t get good news back. Don’t get your hopes up, because a GE or “Nexus edition” HTC One won’t be coming anytime soon.
“HTC is not currently planning a ‘Nexus Edition’ of the HTC One.” and that is all they had to say on the matter. HTC currently offers bootloader unlocked developer editions, but that is all. You’ll still be covered in HTC Sense UI. When we first heard the rumor of a GALAXY S 4 GE, we thought it was all bs, but it turned out true. Google announced the device right on stage. Unlocked, developer friendly, stock pure Android, fast updates and more.
The device certainly isn’t cheap though. Samsung’s Google Edition GALAXY S 4 will be available from the Google Play Store with 16GB for $649. So you’re certainly paying a premium for the device. If you were hoping to get that same experience across all that aluminum and Beats Audio front speakers from HTC. Sorry, it won’t be happening. Or they have no plan to release one.
So here’s the question. Do you get the $299 Nexus 4 from Google and LG, or get the $649 GALAXY S 4? That’s a tough pill to swallow, but I’m sure a few will like the idea. Carry on folks.
Eh, since most other unlocked GS4s are around the same price or more expensive, you aren’t really paying a premium for the GS4 GE
Its still cheap if you compare to SGS4 in Norway. But purchasing devices from Google Play Store is not available in Norway 🙁
So I guess Google is deciding to unveil all their new updates and improvements as Key Lime Pie 5.0 in October…
I almost thought when the S4 was shown with Nexus UI, that it was the rumored feature of KLP that would allow all Android phones to receive direct from Google updates regardless of manufacturer software/firmware, in order to reduce fragmentation. I was so surprised, but then no it ended up being 4.2 on a “special” S4.
I love blinkfeed… I don’t think the One would be the One without that
Compared with vanilla jellybean and something like flipboard? idk if it makes sense to suffer through htc’s skin for one app. At least for me
I’m a true fan of the Nexus line of products and really excited about this new development, finally an OEM (Samsung) that listens and expands to customers needs and expectations, not all Android fans are keen on bloatware and gimmicky features and the GS4 actually supports LTE and is a true high end device. HTC has once again displayed their lack of vision, opportunities and sense (pun intended), for a company that is not doing as well as they should one would think it is about time HTC starts thinking outside the box. I would have loved to by the “One” without all the nonsense inside.
Unless HTC will be making the next Nexus device, it will be a dumb move not to make a HTC ONE GE edition device if called upon to do so by Google. In this head to head battle with Samsung’s GS4 and HTC ONE..it would be SALES MALPRACTICE to cede such a HUGE advantage to Samsung. We all know many android fans love both devices and a huge segment of those fans will love these devices even more running pure android Jelly Bean or kLP.
$649 is not a premium price! It’s UNSUBSIDIZED price. More than that, this price is what almost every other countries are paying…
Also, $649 is the same price as 16 GB unlocked iPhone if you don’t know that.
Why should we expect from HTC when they’re struggling to keep up with the demand of HTC One? There’s no way they’ll be able to release another version of HTC One when their condition is like that.
$649 is pretty much what you will pay under 2 year contract. its better to pay up front, I figure I save about $1000 on a 2yr contract paying up front. I hope this time they take pre-orders at google play. instead of the 5 min sell out issues they had with the nexus 4, I guess I will need to take off work on Jun 26 so I can start trying to click like mad to “add phone to cart”.