Technology Android

[Casey]

http://gizmodo.com/5910604/rumor-google-to-partner-with-multiple-partners-for-multiple-nexus-devices

Rumor: Google to Partner WIth Multiple Handset Makers for Multiple Nexus Devices

According to the Wall Street Journal, Google will partner up with multiple Android handset manufactures to produce several Nexus-branded phones each year, rather than releasing just one.
Here's what the Journal had to say:

Google's strategy is a shift from its previous practice, when it partnered with only one hardware maker at a time to produce seven "lead devices" that showed off the newest Android software features, before releasing the software to other device makers. The change is a bid to exert more control over the apps that run on smartphones and tablets powered by Android, thus reducing the influence of wireless carriers over such devices, these people said.​

The WSJ also points out that the move will also relieve the concerns of companies concerns that Google's pending acquisition of Motorola will lead it to favor Droids.
If true, it could solve many of the persistent problems in the Android ecosystem. Google desperately needs to reign in the platform. Developers often complain that there are too many different devices running too many different versions of Android. This move could help standardize the experience for users across devices.

This is excellent news.

The current lack of handsets running stock Android is an absolute joke. It seems that only T-Mobile US have made the effort to have stock Android phones on the shelves outside of Nexus devices with handsets like the G2, G2X, and the upcoming G4X (LG Optimus 4X rumored to launch with stock ICS on TMob US).

I'd already more or less made up my mind to grab a Nexus device when my contract is up - now it seems I may have a hardware choice too.

ICS is too good in it's pure state to be bastardized by TouchWiz, Sense and Motoblur. They've all improved but I think most customers would much prefer a stock ICS device. Hopefully we'll see stock devices from every major manufacturer, post-Jelly Bean.

 

[Pittsey]

I prefer stock. And always put a custom stock rom on. Did with Eclair, Did with GB, have done now with ICS. Will do when I get my next handset.

 

[masta247]

I wish they started selling Nexus devices to the rest of the world too.

 

[Casey]

I wish they started selling Nexus devices to the rest of the world too.

you mean from the Google Play Store? I think they will soon. I imagine they will announce the status of that at IO.

Also, don't know what (if anything) to read into this, but my cousin (who works on the Android team) told me he's making a work related trip to London next week, I'm going to try and meet up with him for a drink. Makes me wonder what the purpose of the trip is lol. There's obviously a small team at Google UK who work on Android so maybe there's some sort of co-ordination trip going on.

 

[Pittsey]

I know a girl who worked for android UK. She has since left. I don't know what she does. But she is always at MWC and is in SanFran this week.

 

[masta247]

you mean from the Google Play Store? I think they will soon. I imagine they will announce the status of that at IO.

I mean that the Nexus devices aren't being sold on contract outside of the US and England. It would be cool if they were available worldwide.
Google Play Store too, actually - would be nice.

 

[Casey]

I mean that the Nexus devices aren't being sold on contract outside of the US and England. It would be cool if they were available worldwide.
Google Play Store too, actually - would be nice.

Oh really? I didn't realize you couldn't get them subsidized outside the US and UK.

 

[masta247]

Yeah, they don't sell them here at all, it's like these phones don't exist. I think the Galaxy Nexus was available in Germany too so if someone wanted one he had to get it from there. Most European countries didn't get them though.

 

[Flipmo]

LG’s Optimus UI 3.0 shown off with voice camera shutter and quick note abilities​

By Daniel Bader on May 16, 2012 at 12:21pm in Mobile News​

​

LG’s Optimus 4X HD is a pretty powerful phone, with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor and a 4.7-inch TrueIPS 720p display. But none of that would matter if the software wasn’t up to scratch, so LG is doing an advertising blitz in the wake of the phone’s European release, showing off some of its more unique features.​

For starters, as we previously told you, LG’s version of Android 4.0, dubbed Optimus UI 3.0, will support voice shutter abilities inside the camera app. This allows a user to set a specific voice command in order to engage the camera shutter. This solves a number of problems for phone cameras which are more prone to shakiness and don’t focus as quickly as full-sized cameras.​

Another interesting feature that LG is adding is akin to Samsung’s S Memo app in its Galaxy Note. Called Quick Memo, it provides the ability to jot down notes with a finger whenever you need, from within any app. These thoughts can be shared to social networks or email in a flash.​

Still cool but slightly gimmicky is LG’s addition of customizable app icons, which let you take a photo or a face and plant them on your favourite icon.​

​

According to the press release, other features include​

– the ability to unlock the phone by dragging anywhere on the screen;
– a new Pattern Lock that allows users to preset the most frequently used function, such as the camera, which automatically opens once the phone is unlocked;
– a simpler version of Optimus UI 3.0 for new smartphone users which organizes the main applications so that they are the easiest to access;
– a new Voice Shutter that allows users to capture photos using only voice commands;
– a special camera feature that enables users to pick up the best shot among multiple images including the moment just before the shutter button is depressed;
– an Icon Customizer that provides an additional level of personalization by allowing users to set their own photos as icons and shortcut images;
– the addition of a Download category to the menu for easier organization.​

The LG Optimus 4X HD is being released in June across Europe, and is expected to come to Canada later this year.​

Via: Phone Arena​

 

[Casey]

There's a rumor that T-Mobile US are going to release that LG device but with stock ICS. That'd be pretty dope.

 

[THEV1LL4N]

It looks a lot like TouchWiz.

 

[Pittsey]

It looks a lot like TouchWiz.

The LG phone...?

 

[dilla]

How does the Galaxy S 2 beat the Galaxy Nexus in benchmark tests when the Nexus is 6 months newer?

 

[Pittsey]

How does the Galaxy S 2 beat the Galaxy Nexus in benchmark tests when the Nexus is 6 months newer?

Because the S2 is a better phone in my opinion. Others may say benchmarks don't mean shit. But I would rather have the S2 than the Gnexus.

 

[masta247]

The S2 is a more likeable phone I think. It offers a more complete package. Benchmark results are similar I think.

If it comes to those LG phones I think they all lack something. Even when the package looks great on paper those phones simply aren't interesting. The design and UI are too mediocre.

 

[Casey]

Wow. Fuck HTC for this.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/16/3024854/htc-one-x-multitasking-operating-sense

 

[ARon]

I assume they did it for the battery, not that big of a deal

 

[dilla]

HTC has been shooting itself in the foot a lot lately. Locked bootloaders, online unlockers, and now this. They should get together with Samsung and give Samsung the great aesthetics of a phone using Samsung's hardware. And stock Android. Can't remember the last stock Android phone.

 

[Flipmo]

Don't quote me on this, but for the HTC One X, only with AT&T is the bootloader locked. The international version isn't. Not 100% sure on that though...

 

[Casey]

I assume they did it for the battery, not that big of a deal

Read the comments and see how it's affecting people's actual usage. It IS a big deal. IMO, hundreds of Android devices with difference hardware and OS versions isn't fragmentation. THIS is. When you make a serious change to a core function of the OS, you're fucking up the ecosystem. There are dozens, if not hundreds of apps that may have to be re-worked to deal with this.