No more Nexus?

[mikedt]

Now I know alot of this news is controversial and many dont believe it, however I am almost certain this is going to happen based on a few things. here is how I am believe it went down, and why it makes sense for google.

- Samsung owns 60% of the android market share and was threatening to leave Android altogether for Tizen, which would severely damage Google and Android in the short and long term(over 60% loss in profits). Google made a patent deal with Samsung recently to ensure this did not happen, in return Samsung no longer wanted to compete with Motorola or the higher quality/yet cheaper Nexus line of devices. Google agreed to sell Motorola. Samsung also no longer wanted to compete with the Nexus brand of devices because they were half the price of a Samsung flagship and were offered for half the price unlocked with arguably better quality hardware and software, therefore becoming increasingly popular alternatives to Samsung in the android market. Google agreed and in return asked that Samsung scale back touchwiz to more of a stock android experience to replace the void left by Nexus devices and offer every flagship Samsung device as a Google Play Edition as well. Google wins in every way, because they no longer have to worry about developing or marketing Nexus devices, selling them at a loss, or pissing off Samsung. It sucks and I didnt believe it at first, but I am almost positive its going to happen now that Motorola was sold and Samsung is appeased. Apparently it has already been announced within Google and should make a press release soon. I myself am switching to iPhone if this goes down, never liked Samsung devices and everyone else(HTC,LG) seems to be going under. Let me know what you think and why the brand might stick around

Can't see China Inc. going under somehow. What Samsung or Google does doesn't make much difference to the likes of ZTE, Lenovo, Oppo, Hisense, Huawei, etc, etc. I don't really consider the iPhone myself, really because too expensive and too small for my uses. Where does Samsung have 60% market share, United States?

 

[sfbloodbrother]

I thought the whole point of Nexus was to show developers the importance of how to make a quality phone not in just terms of hardware but software as well. It was also to get android out to the developers.

Many developers have really learned how to make a quality device now, like the HTC one, the Moto X (all Motorola), and the LG phone (forgot the name). With that said, Google was successful in their mission. Hopefully the OEMs will continue to make quality devices!

 

[Rxpert83]

Samsung also no longer wanted to compete with the Nexus brand of devices because they were half the price of a Samsung flagship and were offered for half the price unlocked with arguably better quality hardware and software, therefore becoming increasingly popular alternatives to Samsung in the android market.

If Samsung thought stock android were better, they wouldnt hire a team of developers to drastically change it.

I think your hypothesis falls apart there.

On the competition with nexus front- did you see the android distribution numbers in the weeks/month after KitKat release? At that point nexus devices were the only devices on KitKat, and it made up a lowly 1%. Now that even includes the very popular nexus 7 tablet lines, as well as all devices that had a working kitkat custom ROM build.

For the reasons ive outlined above, I personally find it hard to believe Samsung considers nexus a threat.

 

[mustardtiger56]

I found a really great article on "thedroideffect.com"(cannot link for some reason) that is on the front page of the website. Basically it talks about why the Nexus "brand" itself needs to go, but the devices will stay, but will be renamed as "play" editions for better brand uniformity across Googles hardware division. This will allow them to be sold right alongside the GPE devices we have seen recently and clear up confusion between the brands. Google will not get rid of Nexus devices, although they were thought to be selling at a loss, Google has stated that they were the main profit makers this quarter alongside chromecast. Terminating Nexus devices would be suicide in the hardware department especially since they just picked up all of Motorola's technology patents, to sell Motorola is one thing, but to never use the patents/technology gained from Motorola to build a great smartphone would be ridiculous and I'm positive Google understands this. So in short, everybody calm the f&#% down, I think a slight rebranding for Nexus devices would be a good thing. The first rebranded nexus play edition device from google is actually rumoured to be a nexus 8" tablet. Supposedly it will launch in May, perhaps alongside a rebranded Nexus 10.

 

[Crashdamage]

1. Google has always said, from the very beginning when the G1 was introduced, that they were not interested in making phones. They have been consistent with that, never building a Nexus device, even after acquiring Motorola, but rather farming Nexus manufacturing to various other companies. Google never intended to keep Moto and sold it as soon as practical. All they ever wanted was patents.

2. Very likely Google told Samsung to ditch Touchwiz or at least tone it way down. Samsung said "Screw you, we're gonna ditch Android and use Tizen!" Google, knowing Samsung needs Android far more than Google needs Samsung, sees a weak bluff for what it is and says "Go ahead, commit market suicide. Be the next Nokia."

3. Samsung, well aware of the history of Nokia the last few years, ditches both Tizen (even though it's actually an excellent OS) and Touchwiz. They do it as quietly as possible, hoping no one notices.

4. Samsung asks Google how high they should jump. And how do they like their coffee?

5. Google says "Sit down. We like it black. Would you care for some patent protection if you promise to be good little Androids?"

 

[funkylogik]

^ i like that story

 

[Crashdamage]

It's not quite over...watch Samsung try to sell some Windows phones. M$ will send Samsung boatloads of money, in the billions - under the table of course - to get them to try. Samsung will take the cash, put out 2 or 3 phones no one buys and tells M$ "We tried - and thanks!".

Somewhere in the M$ executive washroom Ballmer says "Doh!". Elop smiles and sets sail to the Bahamas on his new yacht.

 

[rui-no-onna]

It's not quite over...watch Samsung try to sell some Windows phones.

Doesn't Samsung already make some Windows phones?

 

[Crashdamage]

Doesn't Samsung already make some Windows phones?

Just barely. M$ will try to get them to put more effort into it.

 

[Shocky]

If Google pushed them too hard I believe Samsung would drop Android.

Imagine what would happen to Android if Samsung changed over to windows mobile for all new devices.

I would hate to see it happen and it's great to think of Google as the dominant partner in this relationship but somehow I doubt it.

 

[Hadron]

It's tricky to judge actually. I'm sure Samsung would like to be in a position where their brand was more important than the OS, but I don't think they are there yet.

They've certainly tried to establish their own apps ecosystem, and their own appstore, but it's not been a huge success. They tried a home-grown OS a couple of years ago, and does anyone actually remember Bada? So sure, they could jump to Tizen and ditch Android, but it would be a risk.

As for moving to Windows, I think not. The more informed buyer will think about the OS as well as the hardware, while the sort of person who knows they have a Galaxy but not what OS it runs will get seriously pissed-off when they upgrade and find that none of their apps are available. I just don't think they could make it work.

As for the Nexus brand, I really hope not. I've never bought one for myself (though I've given an N7 as a present), but they are certainly devices I could easily see myself buying. And at a time when some manufacturers are locking their phones down tighter, the Nexus remains an island of openness that I'd not want to see disappear.

 

[Slug]

Samsung owns 60% of the android market share and was threatening to leave Android altogether for Tizen, which would severely damage Google and Android in the short and long term(over 60% loss in profits)

Samsung don't license Android per-device, so even if they stop manufacturing and selling Android devices tomorrow the impact on Google would be way less than 60%.

Terminating Nexus devices would be suicide in the hardware department especially since they just picked up all of Motorola's technology patents

Those patents were snapped up as much to protect Android from future trolling as anything else. The IP protected by them will most likely find its way into the OS over time, benefiting all hardware manufacturers.

Imagine what would happen to Android if Samsung changed over to windows mobile for all new devices.

Probably very little? You certainly won't see droves of users abandoning Android simply because there's no Samsung. Anyone thinking of an Android device will simply look at alternative choices.

 

[funkylogik]

Tbh i dont know.
A lot of people "want a samsung" and i dont know if they even care/realise what os is on it.
I hope im being overly cynical and that the average person understands at least that they want Play services on their phone

 

[Crashdamage]

If Google pushed them too hard I believe Samsung would drop Android.

Not a chance. Google is driving the bus. Everyone else is happy to keep their seat.

Imagine what would happen to Android if Samsung changed over to windows mobile for all new devices.

Samsung would lose a lot of money. And the Samsung executives responsible would lose their jobs. Samsung saw what happened to Nokia.

 

[breadnatty08]

Tbh i dont know.
A lot of people "want a samsung" and i dont know if they even care/realise what os is on it.
I hope im being overly cynical and that the average person understands at least that they want Play services on their phone

Don't think you are....
While I haven't spent much time in cell phone stores, when I was last in a T-Mo one for a new SIM, a couple who appear to have never had a smartphone before were asking for the "Galaxy" phone. Samsung has done a fantastic job of marketing unlike their rivals. Hence their market share.

 

[funkylogik]

Yeah. And Samsung never seem to mention/market the fact that they have an android based OS with google play on it in their big stupid launches or tv ads so it wouldnt surprise me if the average person thinks in terms of "galaxy vs iphone/lumia" instead of "android vs ios/windows"
Samsung could probably skin windows enough that people wouldnt know the difference

 

[breadnatty08]

I was a bit sad with the misinformation that was given out to them as well (though, shouldn't be unexpected).
That said, and back to the OP, I really hope the Nexus program continues and hopefully next year it'll be compatible with Verizon again but I have my doubts.

 

[Shocky]

Probably very little? You certainly won't see droves of users abandoning Android simply because there's no Samsung. Anyone thinking of an Android device will simply look at alternative choices.

Samsung has 60% of the Android market share, some of those users would buy another Android phone but also allot of them would stick with Samsung.

Allot of users don't care about the OS, they don't care about updates or technical details.

Not a chance. Google is driving the bus. Everyone else is happy to keep their seat.

Samsung would lose a lot of money. And the Samsung executives responsible would lose their jobs. Samsung saw what happened to Nokia.

I hope your right and I agree Samsung would lose money in the short term or rather not make as much as they are now, long term though I wouldn't be so sure as the Samsung brand sells better than the Android brand does.

 

[Crashdamage]

But they care about apps, and Android and Apple is where the apps are. Without apps, the Samsung brand would quickly lose its appeal.

 

[Shocky]

But they care about apps, and Android and Apple is where the apps are.

So long as they have the basic apps and access to social networks allot of users would be happy enough.

 

[Rxpert83]

The app market of windows mobile is frequently cited as a reason it hasn't taken off.

 

[cws3e]

I would hate to see the Nexus phones go away, but if manufacturers start producing phones without all the added crap, maybe I could accept it with minimal complaining (of course there will still be some complaining)

 

[Slug]

Allot of users don't care about the OS, they don't care about updates or technical details.

So long as they have the basic apps and access to social networks allot of users would be happy enough.

Then they're hardly the target demographic for the Nexus range, the rumoured demise of which is the topic after all, are they?

Here's a thought... if Google axe the Nexus, perhaps it will be with the proviso that OEMs at last provide users with the option to switch off their own overlay in favour of the stock UI. Iirc this was mooted in the past but never came to fruition - this could be the opportunity.

 

[Shocky]

Then they're hardly the target demographic for the Nexus range, the rumoured demise of which is the topic after all, are they?

Here's a thought... if Google axe the Nexus, perhaps it will be with the proviso that OEMs at last provide users with the option to switch off their own overlay in favour of the stock UI. Iirc this was mooted in the past but never came to fruition - this could be the opportunity.

Fair point.

Being able to switch overlays would make allot of enthusiasts very happy, but the average user probably wouldn't care.

Anyway, it would be sad to see the Nexus line go purely because you couldn't buy a device with the Nexus 5 specs for the same price and the same goes other Nexus devices.

 

[funkylogik]

Same as shocky. It would be nice to see an option for people to turn off the overlay but wouldnt make a difference to me. The updates would probably still be very slow and id end up using a custom rom anyway.
I like that nexus are at a fair reasonable price