***Official Galaxy Nexus Pre-Release speculation thread**

[BabyBlues]

Lol. I agree. Anyone who hasn't used a locked down phone for an extended amount of time doesn't understand how frustrating it can be. I hope to dissuade anyone in this thread from it

I can say that if that phone was even in the running for me the locked bootloader would have won me to the Nexus. Right now the only thing that will make me shy away from the Nexus would be for one of you to get it and have massive combined issues. Otherwise I'm looking forward to a phone that updates right away, can have spare batteries and is kinda purty.

 

[nhindian]

You guys probably already know this but I found it interesting. Razr locked in the US, not abroad?

Non-US DROID RAZR phones will have unlockable bootloader | Android Community

If this is true, it'll probably get hacked fairly easily once the world version is released. Not that I would buy one anyway, just sayin.

Twitter

 

[yawdapaah]

You guys probably already know this but I found it interesting. Razr locked in the US, not abroad?

Non-US DROID RAZR phones will have unlockable bootloader | Android Community

If this is true, it'll probably get hacked fairly easily once the world version is released. Not that I would buy one anyway, just sayin.

If that was the case, the Euro Milestone wouldn't STILL be locked.

 

[Medion]

I know this has been said time and again, but the OG Droid, Thunderbolt, the Xoom, and plenty of other Verizon devices that I can't remember right now all have unlockable bootloaders. I don't think Verizon is the only one at fault here. Motorola's just as big a culprit for locking the Razr bootloader. They have sway with Verizon, if they felt strongly about the bootloader, they'd take a stand. But they want a locked bootloader just as much as Verizon. Sad but true.

Verizon generally prefers unlockable bootloaders, with some exceptions (like a first-run flasgship device). The Xperia Play is bootloader unlockable, but Verizon asked their their version not be unlockable. Same with the Milestone 3 vs. Droid 3. There are many cases of this.

OG Droid and Xoom were flashship launches for Android 2.0 and 3.0, respectively. Google had some say in that.

 

[TheRoosevelt]

You guys probably already know this but I found it interesting. Razr locked in the US, not abroad?

Non-US DROID RAZR phones will have unlockable bootloader | Android Community

If this is true, it'll probably get hacked fairly easily once the world version is released. Not that I would buy one anyway, just sayin.

Ah. So it probably was Verizon then

 

[The_Chief]

Trust me: Verizon WANTS that bootloader locked down so users have to keep their bloatware on it. Motorola puts unlockable bootloaders on their phones and will unlock it "where carriers and operators will permit." Verizon will never permit it.

 

[iowabowtech]

If that was the case, the Euro Milestone wouldn't STILL be locked.

A lot of phones are released locked, that doesn't mean an exploit can't be found.

 

[yawdapaah]

A lot of phones are released locked, that doesn't mean an exploit can't be found.

That's correct.

I responded to a post about the Euro RAZR (unlocked) helping to unlock the US (locked) RAZR. The US OG Droid being open didn't help the Euro Milestone even though they're, essentially, the same device.

 

[rushmore]

Trust me: Verizon WANTS that bootloader locked down so users have to keep their bloatware on it. Motorola puts unlockable bootloaders on their phones and will unlock it "where carriers and operators will permit." Verizon will never permit it.

Which makes the Nexus on VZW all the more intriguing. Questions that pop up:

1. Did VZW know what they are getting into, since this does contradict their bidness' model?

2. If releasing at $300, will it be sans bloat?

3. If releasing unsubsidized (full price), will it be a true Nexus (vanilla & no bloat)?

Seems those dynamics may be a reason for the lack of mention of the Nexus, besides the apparently hasty statement of "Later this year".

 

[iowabowtech]

That's correct.

I responded to a post about the Euro RAZR (unlocked) helping to unlock the US (locked) RAZR. The US OG Droid being open didn't help the Euro Milestone even though they're, essentially, the same device.

I got you. Yeah idk, figured they might be able to reverse engineer the lock better if they had a stripped version to compare it to. I'm no hacker though and evidently it didn't work in that case so who knows. Whatever the case, it seems like most flagshipesque phones get rooted eventually. It's just too bad hacking is necessary in the first place.

 

[redraider1]

Trust me: Verizon WANTS that bootloader locked down so users have to keep their bloatware on it. Motorola puts unlockable bootloaders on their phones and will unlock it "where carriers and operators will permit." Verizon will never permit it.

Bootloader has nothing to do with removing bloat since it can and gets rooted and then can remove bloat.

 

[kcs7272]

Which makes the Nexus on VZW all the more intriguing. Questions that pop up:

1. Did VZW know what they are getting into, since this does contradict their bidness' model?

2. If releasing at $300, will it be sans bloat?

3. If releasing unsubsidized (full price), will it be a true Nexus (vanilla & no bloat)?

Seems those dynamics may be a reason for the lack of mention of the Nexus, besides the apparently hasty statement of "Later this year".

All I know is that being in the Nexus line I'm pretty sure it will be bloat free.

 

[The_Chief]

Which makes the Nexus on VZW all the more intriguing. Questions that pop up:

1. Did VZW know what they are getting into, since this does contradict their bidness' model?

2. If releasing at $300, will it be sans bloat?

3. If releasing unsubsidized (full price), will it be a true Nexus (vanilla & no bloat)?

Seems those dynamics may be a reason for the lack of mention of the Nexus, besides the apparently hasty statement of "Later this year".

1. Maybe not. But they're in it now... and they know now (from us) that they'll sell millions of them anyway.

2. I have no doubt it will be sans bloat. Google would never stand for bloat on a Nexus, especially an ICS rollout flagship. And Verizon will subsidize it to sell more and make more money.

3. See Number 2. Vanilla and no bloat. My 0.02

 

[The_Chief]

Bootloader has nothing to do with removing bloat since it can and gets rooted and then can remove bloat.

For the intrepid few. But if not for that reason, why else would they want the bootloader locked if not to keep people out of the system and their bloat? That and preventing possible bricks / returns.

 

[kcs7272]

A lot of people are a bit obsessed with the size or more to the point the thickness of this device.

People are so amazed at how thin the Razr is. In my opinion a phone can be too thin. I like a little girth, I like to feel a little heft. But I am a big guy too.

We just seem spoiled by thin devices to the point that an eight of an inch or a tenth of a millimeter is unacceptable.

I still think a 1 inch thick phone is.skinny lol.

 

[BLD]

Podcast was recorded and posted before the VZW press release

(not that that means they have any credibility)

Ah. Nevermind....

 

[BLD]

Did google say that their nexus line was a developers phone? I mean. I dont get what makes it a developer phone? Is it because it has ICS? NFC? Barometer? Facelock?

Spec-wise this is as good or nearly as good as anything on the market. What exactly is a developers phone?

Wouldn't every phone be a developers phone?

I believe when Google first started the Nexus line with the Nexus One they stated the line would be done with developers in mind and have the lastest and greatest of Android features for them to develop toward.

 

[nj02vette]

Bootloader has nothing to do with removing bloat since it can and gets rooted and then can remove bloat.

Correction, only some of the bloat can be removed. Extras like pre-installed Madden NFL, or CityID. Yes, very easy.

But not when essential services are replaced by bloated and UI equivalents. You can't just shut them off, which is also why I LOL when people think that skinned version of ICS will be able to remove all extras and get to AOSP. It won't and it can't.

 

[Medion]

Which makes the Nexus on VZW all the more intriguing. Questions that pop up:

1. Did VZW know what they are getting into, since this does contradict their bidness' model?

2. If releasing at $300, will it be sans bloat?

3. If releasing unsubsidized (full price), will it be a true Nexus (vanilla & no bloat)?

Seems those dynamics may be a reason for the lack of mention of the Nexus, besides the apparently hasty statement of "Later this year".

To answer your questions as directly as possible;

1. Yes. In fact, there have been numerous Google releases on Verizon with unlocked bootloaders. the Droid 1 was the flagship Android 2.0 device (for about 2 months) and shipped with an unlocked bootloader. The Motorola Xoom was the flagship 3.0 device and shipped with an unlocked bootloader. however, those devices had updates handled via Moto, through Verizon.

2. Already unofficially confirmed that the device will be bloat free. EDIT Google Verizon will be handling the updates. This was confirmed by a Google employee. However, it's not officially confirmed in my book until one of the parties involved issues a press release, or until it actually happens.

3. All of the leaks and unofficial confirmation that we have so far is that it will be a true Nexus, unlocked bootloader, no bloat, and subsidized at $299.99 on a 2 year contract. We also have one source claiming 32GB version, but that source hasn't been as reliable as the main ones.

 

[nj02vette]

A lot of people are a bit obsessed with the size or more to the point the thickness of this device.

People are so amazed at how thin the Razr is. In my opinion a phone can be too thin. I like a little girth, I like to feel a little heft. But I am a big guy too.

We just seem spoiled by thin devices to the point that an eight of an inch or a tenth of a millimeter is unacceptable.

I still think a 1 inch thick phone is.skinny lol.

The thickness of my DX is fine for me. Anything comparable is sufficient. But yeah, too thin and I think durability and useability could be affected.

 

[Ytram]

Verizon will be handling the updates. This was confirmed by a Google employee.

I haven't seen anything about this? Is this a typo? Otherwise, what's the source?

 

[BLD]

To answer your questions as directly as possible;

1. Yes. In fact, there have been numerous Google releases on Verizon with unlocked bootloaders. the Droid 1 was the flagship Android 2.0 device (for about 2 months) and shipped with an unlocked bootloader. The Motorola Xoom was the flagship 3.0 device and shipped with an unlocked bootloader. however, those devices had updates handled via Moto, through Verizon.

2. Already unofficially confirmed that the device will be bloat free. Verizon will be handling the updates. This was confirmed by a Google employee. However, it's not officially confirmed in my book until one of the parties involved issues a press release, or until it actually happens.

3. All of the leaks and unofficial confirmation that we have so far is that it will be a true Nexus, unlocked bootloader, no bloat, and subsidized at $299.99 on a 2 year contract. We also have one source claiming 32GB version, but that source hasn't been as reliable as the main ones.

I think for #2 you meant to say that Google will be handling the updated. At least that's what I read BMX stated.

 

[Trent Reznor]

To answer your questions as directly as possible;

2. Already unofficially confirmed that the device will be bloat free. Verizon will be handling the updates. This was confirmed by a Google employee. However, it's not officially confirmed in my book until one of the parties involved issues a press release, or until it actually happens.

Where did you here updates will come from VZW?

BMX posted:

"updates are coming direct from Google... that was one of the "must haves" now if we sell 45 million of them we may need vzw to help"

 

[TheRoosevelt]

To anyone who had any doubt about getting this phone, watch this hands-on in HD now!

Galaxy Nexus preview - YouTube

All my worries are gone. The device is beautiful, the screen is beautiful, the UI is beautiful. Build quality seems fantastic despite the plastic, and everything looked buttery smooth, with no lag from what I could see.

TAKE MY MONEY VERIZON/SAMSUNG/GOOGLE, I'M BEGGING YOU

 

[mongstradamus]

To anyone who had any doubt about getting this phone, watch this hands-on in HD now!

Galaxy Nexus preview - YouTube

All my worries are gone. The device is beautiful, the screen is beautiful, the UI is beautiful. Build quality seems fantastic despite the plastic, and everything looked buttery smooth, with no lag from what I could see.

TAKE MY MONEY VERIZON/SAMSUNG/GOOGLE, I'M BEGGING YOU

it looks all awesome just do multi carrier release and I will give my money too