Nexus 6 speculation

[Kauai]

Well, its odd that you use your phone for that instead of a tablet but id think the HTC One M8 would be best for that if you want better sound.

1. If I'm going to own a 'phablet' then it greatly diminishes the need I have for a tablet. I gave my iPad Air to my Mom.
2. I usually do all this laying down in bed, so a tablet is really uncomfortable to use.

I love HTC Phones but the M8 is isn't the latest and greatest so the tech side of me would be annoyed. If only the M9 was coming out soon.

 

[lighthouse_man]

1. If I'm going to own a 'phablet' then it greatly diminishes the need I have for a tablet. I gave my iPad Air to my Mom.
2. I usually do all this laying down in bed, so a tablet is really uncomfortable to use.

I love HTC Phones but the M8 is isn't the latest and greatest so the tech side of me would be annoyed. If only the M9 was coming out soon.

I'm willing to bet that the sound on the N6 will be great but you should wait for the reviews and then make your decision. Hopefully these will start popping on the Internet from next week.

 

[jeffe]

Forbes today has a piece on the 6+ saying the very same. The rounded edges just don't give you that feeling of security when holding it.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2014/10/22/apple-iphone-6-long-term-review/


I got to test drive the N6 today. I don't like really big phones but something about the N6 just got me - the real estate available on the screen was just amazing and it does making working on the phone just such a better experience - I can see how people can get hooked on large phones. I was really impressed with the phone though - the speed and smoothness was just wonderful.

Not sure it's still for me. I will have to wait and see.

Wow you are lucky to see the N6. Did you happen to see if it had double tap to wake? Some conflicting reports on that out there.

 

[jamezr]

Looks like Knox is going to be on Android L and on the Nexus 6.




http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/06/25/android-l-has-a-new-feature-that-combines-work-and-play/

 

[diamond.g]

So is the general concensus to get the phone from Motorola? I usually order stuff from GPS, but folks are saying Moto offers free shipping...

 

[kevinof]

Wow you are lucky to see the N6. Did you happen to see if it had double tap to wake? Some conflicting reports on that out there.

Lucky and unlucky. I was visiting google and they let me play with it for a while. Unlucky that they wouldn't let me walk out the door with it!

Didn't think to check on the double tap. Not sure if it has the h/w to it but just don't know.

 

[mattopotamus]

So is the general concensus to get the phone from Motorola? I usually order stuff from GPS, but folks are saying Moto offers free shipping...

Personally if I am paying $650+ tax, shipping is an afterthought

 

[diamond.g]

Personally if I am paying $650+ tax, shipping is an afterthought

Yeah getting it from Google just seems more right, lol.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I am surprised there hasn't been some good YouTube videos or real hands on yet with the Nexus 6.

Google announced it two weeks ago, and it officially goes on sale in a couple of days, and still no Nexus 6 out in the real world yet ? Yeah they may be two videos out there, one with some foreign dude from either Britain or Australia comparing it to a Note 4, and another short little vid from Des the T-Mobile dude, but that's it. But those videos sucked, not good lighting and detailed.

 

[Fanaticalism]

I am surprised there hasn't been some good YouTube videos or real hands on yet with the Nexus 6.

Google announced it two weeks ago, and it officially goes on sale in a couple of days, and still no Nexus 6 out in the real world yet ? Yeah they may be two videos out there, one with some foreign dude from either Britain or Australia comparing it to a Note 4, and another short little vid from Des the T-Mobile dude, but that's it. But those videos sucked, not good lighting and detailed.

I'm with you. Couple this with the lack of clarity of a launch date on carriers, I am beginning to lose the wind from under my sails.

It is still not clear to me whether or not the carrier versions will be free of branding and bloat albeit the lack thereof in the N5 from T-Mobile and Sprint. I am tempted more and more everyday by the Note 4, but all of the aforementioned are keeping on track with the N6.

 

[El3ctronics]

I'm with you. Couple this with the lack of clarity of a launch date on carriers, I am beginning to lose the wind from under my sails.

It is still not clear to me whether or not the carrier versions will be free of branding and bloat albeit the lack thereof in the N5 from T-Mobile and Sprint. I am tempted more and more everyday by the Note 4, but all of the aforementioned are keeping on track with the N6.

According to Ars, the carrier apps will be automatically installed from the Play Store when you set up the device you buy from them. However they won't be on the system partition and they will be able to be uninstalled.

 

[Fanaticalism]

According to Ars, the carrier apps will be automatically installed from the Play Store when you set up the device you buy from them. However they won't be on the system partition and they will be able to be uninstalled.

I just ran across this article on android central. Supposedly, updates will not be in line with the play store edition as well. This is shaping up to be a debacle. I will of course wait until the official launch for the facts.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Why can't Google have a Nexus phone on all carriers and worldwide, just like Apple and the iPhone ? When iOS8 came out, every iPhone 5S had the option to update it and grab that upgrade, with no waiting on each carrier to approve something, when Apple releases a new iOS, it's there for everyone at the same, Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint, European versions, etc...

Do you ever see ATT Crapware on the ATT iPhone ? No. Or is there a big Verizon logo splattered across the Verizon iPhone ? No.

I don't understand why a Nexus phone can't be on all carriers and be treated just like an iPhone, meaning no carrier intervention, it's all handled by Apple.

 

[tbayrgs]

Why can't Google have a Nexus phone on all carriers and worldwide, just like Apple and the iPhone ? When iOS8 came out, every iPhone 5S had the option to update it and grab that upgrade, with no waiting on each carrier to approve something, when Apple releases a new iOS, it's there for everyone at the same, Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint, European versions, etc...

Do you ever see ATT Crapware on the ATT iPhone ? No. Or is there a big Verizon logo splattered across the Verizon iPhone ? No.

I don't understand why a Nexus phone can't be on all carriers and be treated just like an iPhone, meaning no carrier intervention, it's all handled by Apple.

Google just doesn't have the leverage. Google withholds a Nexus handset from a carrier and it's no skin off their back, they'll just continue to stock a dozen different Android devices that consumers are much more familiar with already. Unless Google wants to restrict availability of all Android devices to a carrier, they'll never have this leverage.

Conversely, a carrier doesn't play ball with Apple and they have no iPhone at all.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Google just doesn't have the leverage. Google withholds a Nexus handset from a carrier and it's no skin off their back, they'll just continue to stock a dozen different Android devices that consumers are much more familiar with already. Unless Google wants to restrict availability of all Android devices to a carrier, they'll never have this leverage.

Conversely, a carrier doesn't play ball with Apple and they have no iPhone at all.

Makes me happy I got my OnePlus One last week. Yeah I hated the whole invite system, and BS, but for $350 this is a damn nice phone, nice enough to make me sell my HTC One M8 which I LOVED. CM11S is as close to a Nexus phone as we'll get, compared to like Touchwiz, and Sense, etc...

So the Nexus 6 is $700 And maybe the carrier versions won't get the best support from Google directly, but have to go through another chain of carrier approval So sad to see Google do this to the Nexus. Why didn't Google just make a OnePlus One killer type of phone, a 5.5" screen, better hardware, all for like $399, sold off contract on the Play Store only.

 

[zOne31]

Why can't Google have a Nexus phone on all carriers and worldwide, just like Apple and the iPhone ? When iOS8 came out, every iPhone 5S had the option to update it and grab that upgrade, with no waiting on each carrier to approve something, when Apple releases a new iOS, it's there for everyone at the same, Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint, European versions, etc...

Do you ever see ATT Crapware on the ATT iPhone ? No. Or is there a big Verizon logo splattered across the Verizon iPhone ? No.

I don't understand why a Nexus phone can't be on all carriers and be treated just like an iPhone, meaning no carrier intervention, it's all handled by Apple.

Yes! I have been hoping for a Nexus/Android phone for all carriers similar to the iPhone. When Google announced the Nexus 6, the first thing I wanted to know was whether there was going to be one or two versions. I did the same thing when Motorola updated their Moto X. Sadly, there's currently no international option for the Moto X. As someone who is planning on living abroad, I was looking for a phone that would work on any GSM network in the world. It's a real shame that Google hasn't made one.

I feel like Google is trying to find a way to update their phones (or just Nexus devices) like the way Apple is doing it. It's probably still a couple-few years away but I think Google will eventually bypass carrier intervention.

 

[Dmunjal]

Makes me happy I got my OnePlus One last week. Yeah I hated the whole invite system, and BS, but for $350 this is a damn nice phone, nice enough to make me sell my HTC One M8 which I LOVED. CM11S is as close to a Nexus phone as we'll get, compared to like Touchwiz, and Sense, etc...

So the Nexus 6 is $700 And maybe the carrier versions won't get the best support from Google directly, but have to go through another chain of carrier approval So sad to see Google do this to the Nexus. Why didn't Google just make a OnePlus One killer type of phone, a 5.5" screen, better hardware, all for like $399, sold off contract on the Play Store only.

The fact is that Google needs the carrier channel to scale sales and support. Apple has their own stores. Google can't do this all online. Unfortunately, there are concessions that need to be made.

 

[Tig Bitties]

The fact is that Google needs the carrier channel to scale sales and support. Apple has their own stores. Google can't do this all online. Unfortunately, there are concessions that need to be made.

But this isn't the first Nexus phone, it is the sixth generation already. Google should have gotten it's act together already on this. They tried with the Nexus-One, to sell an off contract phone for GSM users, but the industry wasn't ready. And then later the Galaxy Nexus was a bigger hit, but only sold by Verizon in the U.S. and they botched that up. And then the Nexus 4 and 5 sold for an affordable price through the Play Store and T-Mobile + Sprint, but had like zero marketing, and no one even knew those phones existed outside of the nerd tech world.

How did Apple do it right away ? The original iPhone didn't have crapware or bloatware, and was fully controlled by Apple from the start. But back then, the Apple name and iPhone weren't nearly what they are today, but still Apple got it done their way years ago.

Google should have more clout and say so today in 2014, than Apple / iPhone did in 2007.

 

[Dmunjal]

But this isn't the first Nexus phone, it is the sixth generation already. Google should have gotten it's act together already on this. They tried with the Nexus-One, to sell an off contract phone for GSM users, but the industry wasn't ready. And then later the Galaxy Nexus was a bigger hit, but only sold by Verizon in the U.S. and they botched that up. And then the Nexus 4 and 5 sold for an affordable price through the Play Store and T-Mobile + Sprint, but had like zero marketing, and no one even knew those phones existed outside of the nerd tech world.

How did Apple do it right away ? The original iPhone didn't have crapware or bloatware, and was fully controlled by Apple from the start. But back then, the Apple name and iPhone weren't nearly what they are today, but still Apple got it done their way years ago.

Google should have more clout and say so today in 2014, than Apple / iPhone did in 2007.

I really believe the retail stores that Apple has make the difference. I had to return a phone to the Play Store through the mail. Great experience but I doubt the masses are ready for that model. The other valid point is that Google Nexus doesn't have the clout since there are so many other Android manufacturers. Even mighty Samsung couldn't pull this off.

 

[jeffe]

I really believe the retail stores that Apple has make the difference. I had to return a phone to the Play Store through the mail. Great experience but I doubt the masses are ready for that model. The other valid point is that Google Nexus doesn't have the clout since there are so many other Android manufacturers. Even mighty Samsung couldn't pull this off.

Yes I'm sure a carrier would feel much more threatened if Apple was to stop selling their phone for the carrier vs Google doing the same.

Apple has more room to negotiate as iOS is in high demand and they are the only ones able to supply it. I;'m sure releases are carrier tested as well but probably under much stricter time constraints that Apple is able to set.

 

[JaySoul]

STILL no news on the UK price/date??

 

[mattopotamus]

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding a phone that goes up for pre-order tomorrow. I would rather buy it from my carrier if I knew it would be bloat free and just like the n6 from the play store. Why would I not? I can pay the phone off in a few months with zero interest from my carrier vs. dropping $680 at the time of purchase.

 

[tbayrgs]

The fact is that Google needs the carrier channel to scale sales and support. Apple has their own stores. Google can't do this all online. Unfortunately, there are concessions that need to be made.

I really believe the retail stores that Apple has make the difference. I had to return a phone to the Play Store through the mail. Great experience but I doubt the masses are ready for that model. The other valid point is that Google Nexus doesn't have the clout since there are so many other Android manufacturers. Even mighty Samsung couldn't pull this off.

Yes I'm sure a carrier would feel much more threatened if Apple was to stop selling their phone for the carrier vs Google doing the same.

Apple has more room to negotiate as iOS is in high demand and they are the only ones able to supply it. I;'m sure releases are carrier tested as well but probably under much stricter time constraints that Apple is able to set.

All of these^. Google will never have the leverage to force carriers hands with their current model of doing business for Android. They have no exclusivity, either via hardware or software, that the carriers couldn't just get elsewhere.

----------

But this isn't the first Nexus phone, it is the sixth generation already. Google should have gotten it's act together already on this. They tried with the Nexus-One, to sell an off contract phone for GSM users, but the industry wasn't ready. And then later the Galaxy Nexus was a bigger hit, but only sold by Verizon in the U.S. and they botched that up. And then the Nexus 4 and 5 sold for an affordable price through the Play Store and T-Mobile + Sprint, but had like zero marketing, and no one even knew those phones existed outside of the nerd tech world.

How did Apple do it right away ? The original iPhone didn't have crapware or bloatware, and was fully controlled by Apple from the start. But back then, the Apple name and iPhone weren't nearly what they are today, but still Apple got it done their way years ago.

Google should have more clout and say so today in 2014, than Apple / iPhone did in 2007.

Apple did have the cache back, maybe not what they now, but the prospect of an Apple phone had carriers and consumers drooling. All they needed was one carrier to agree to their terms and the device and the user experience did the rest of the work. There was nothing else available like it at the time. Now, what does a Nexus device offer that consumers can't get any number of other places?

Once Android was made open source and available to anyone and everyone, Google lost any leverage they might have had. And they really had no interest in getting into the hardware business--isn't their bread and butter.

And yes, the most recent Nexus phones were available for comparatively affordable full-retail price. The problem with that though is very, very few people want to drop $400 on a phone when until recently, there was next to zero advantage to having an unlocked/out of contract phone in the US. So much carrier hardware incompatibility meant you really couldn't take your device elsewhere because it either wouldn't work at all or with limited functionality on a different carrier. People would much rather pay $99/$199 for a phone on contract. And even now, most people will only pay full-retail by utilizing one of the carrier installment plans because, again, most people aren't going to pay $500+ up front for a phone.

If Google want their Nexus phones to make any sort of headway, they unfortunately have to play by the carriers rules.

 

[jamezr]

All of these^. Google will never have the leverage to force carriers hands with their current model of doing business for Android. They have no exclusivity, either via hardware or software, that the carriers couldn't just get elsewhere.

If they were smart the would leverage Android itself. Get more control over the OS...offer more default features. Android has 85% of the market worldwide. That is a lot of clout. They just do not use it......
Let see what happens with the Nexus 6. If it is available on all carriers unlocked and bloat free. Then that is a huge win for Google. In effect they will be using the carrier stores as their distribution channel to supplement online sale through the Play Store. The N6 will not rival Apple or Samsung in sales. But it could start the process of Google taking more control.

 

[tbayrgs]

If they were smart the would leverage Android itself. Get more control over the OS...offer more default features. Android has 85% of the market worldwide. That is a lot of clout. They just do not use it......
Let see what happens with the Nexus 6. If it is available on all carriers unlocked and bloat free. Then that is a huge win for Google. In effect they will be using the carrier stores as their distribution channel to supplement online sale through the Play Store. The N6 will not rival Apple or Samsung in sales. But it could start the process of Google taking more control.

But doesn't doing so make is more like iOS, more 'locked down? And if they do lock out some functionality, aren't they then risking damaging the relationships with all the OEMs that have given them that 85% market share? They essentially would be exercising that clout with their partners first, in order to then have some influence with the carriers.

They make far more money from Android being used in some many other devices than they stand to make from a Nexus phone.

I sincerely hope the carriers are offering the Nexus 6 in exactly the same state as what one will get ordering it through Google, I just seriously doubt that will be the case. The carriers don't need the Nexus and I'm guessing your going to see some carrier bloatware on the carrier branded versions. I really hope I'm wrong though.

Using the 6+ for a month now has convinced me on the merits of these supersized phones (sorry, hate the term phablet) and I'm genuinely intrigued by the Nexus 6.