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Google pulls plug on Nexus One

zdnet.com

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Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#111
post #83
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a problem in that the old phones should continue to be supported and get the new OS's in a timely fashion. They shouldn't need to worry about which OS is on there, but I think the OS should continue to get better over the life of the phone regardless. I'm not saying it needs to be out there right now, it's more of a question of whether a random model x will ever get it. Some probably won't, even if they can supp…

Why would you expect that to be the case? Can you install Windows 7 on your 2000-era PC? Can you even install it on your 2005-era PC and expect it to perform well? Some phones will be updated, and some will not. Some won't get the update because: 1. The hardware is too old/slow/underpowered/too little RAM for the new OS 2. The manufacturer/carrier doesn't give a damn and doesn't feel like pouring money into an old ph…

I would be pretty annoyed if I couldn't install W7 on the laptop I bought today. Well, actually I wouldn't, I hate Windows 7, but you get my point. We are not dealing with old hardware, we are dealing with problematic manufacturers and carriers.

This is the same problem we had in the past, but it is more of an issue now. This is what Apple freed us from, no matter what carrier it is on in the world, I can upgrade my phone.

Android do a lot of things right, this is not one of them.

Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#112
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Google must have underestimated the task. Or overestimated their own interest in playing this game.

If they're going to compete with Apple though, who's now firmly waltzing into Google's territory (see iAd and all the new cloud services)... ...don't they have to be interested in playing this game?

No, they just need to partner with people who are interested in playing this game.

Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#113
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

actual capabilities of currently available Android systems vs. iOS 4 So how many devices are shipping now with Android 2.2 and how many are shipping/getting updated with iOS 4?

Let me rephrase that, since you appear to have entirely missed the point of my post. It doesn't matter that Android 2.2 isn't out yet, because Android 2.1 still compares favorably to iOS 4.

Well, it becomes a problem when users start reading about features, and they are not available on their phones yet.

I buy an android phone, and it doesn't have built in mifi, I am going to be annoyed (I am ok, I have a nexus one).

Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#114
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The problem is that you typically pay the same monthly service fee whether you take a subsidized phone or not. Yeah, T-mobile is really great about this. I'm saving over a thousand dollars over the life of the phone by getting a data-only plan.

I'm curious: do you have a data-only plan so you can use VoIP to make phone calls? I have been trying to find a device that would make it easy to make VoIP calls most of the time, since I am nearly always around free (or already-paid for) wireless broadband, but fall back on a prepaid SIM card when I only have cell network coverage. Some of the Android devices look promising for this, especially the Nexus One, but I…

> I'm curious: do you have a data-only plan so you can use VoIP to make phone calls?

Yeah. You need the Google Code version of SipDroid; the one in the market is crippled: http://code.google.com/p/sipdroid/

Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#115
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Best in terms of what exactly? Baseline snarkiness? Most customers don't know, much less care about, the exact version number of their phone's operating system. They care about what the operating system can do for them. But I suppose if Gruber were to compare the actual capabilities of currently available Android systems vs. iOS 4, he would have much less to be snarky about on Apple's behalf.

Please tell me what Froyo does the iOS4 doesn't. I switched from a 3gs to an N1 and the primitive nature of android is apparent at every corner. Browser runs like crap. Try loading a page with a bunch of graphics and text. It will run like a flip book cartoon. The music player is laughable. It doesn't even match up to an ipod classic. The exchange syncing does not work correctly, especially calendar syncing. And a la…

Here are the things I use regularly that iOS doesn't/probably-will-never have.

- Free turn by turn navigation that's better than any dedicated gps device.

- Wifi or bluetooth tethering. I recently was travelling with my girlfriend, and we both could access the internet on our laptops routed over WiFi through my phone. The hotel even had free wifi, but it was easier to not bother with figuring out how to set that up, and just use my phone.

- Fully integrated Google Voice.

Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#116
post #73
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am thinking Python 2.7/3.1 ;-) http://docs.python.org/dev/whatsnew/2.7.html#python-3-1-feat...

Note that {} still means an empty dictionary, not an empty set.

Thanks. Well noted.

Sadly, I am stuck with 2.4~2.6 for now. Can't wait.

Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#117
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The problem is that you typically pay the same monthly service fee whether you take a subsidized phone or not. Yeah, T-mobile is really great about this. I'm saving over a thousand dollars over the life of the phone by getting a data-only plan.

I'm curious: do you have a data-only plan so you can use VoIP to make phone calls? I have been trying to find a device that would make it easy to make VoIP calls most of the time, since I am nearly always around free (or already-paid for) wireless broadband, but fall back on a prepaid SIM card when I only have cell network coverage. Some of the Android devices look promising for this, especially the Nexus One, but I…

I have a Nokia N900 and I find making and receiving VoIP calls (Skype and Google Talk) just as convenient as POTS calls. I had never owned a smartphone before this, so I find its lack of battery life disturbing, even though it seems on par with a colleague's iPhone.

So for the random guy on the Internet recommendation: overall, I would buy this phone again, especially if I had wide-ranging access to WiFi.

Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uh, there are obvious differences between different versions of the iPhone and/or iPod Touch that lead to new version envy. Otherwise why would anyone upgrade?

The thing is though--if you go into a store and by an iPhone, you're guaranteed to have the newest version. If you go and buy an Android phone, you never quite know what you're getting.

They still sell the 3G.

And that's kind of a tautology. You're tied to one manufacturer and one carrier. I can walk into the Verizon store and purchase the most expensive HTC phone and I know that I have the latest HTC on Verizon just like you know you have the latest Apple device on AT&T. A lack of choice doesn't mean you automatically have something better in your hands.

Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#119
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Best in terms of what exactly? Baseline snarkiness? Most customers don't know, much less care about, the exact version number of their phone's operating system. They care about what the operating system can do for them. But I suppose if Gruber were to compare the actual capabilities of currently available Android systems vs. iOS 4, he would have much less to be snarky about on Apple's behalf.

Please tell me what Froyo does the iOS4 doesn't. I switched from a 3gs to an N1 and the primitive nature of android is apparent at every corner. Browser runs like crap. Try loading a page with a bunch of graphics and text. It will run like a flip book cartoon. The music player is laughable. It doesn't even match up to an ipod classic. The exchange syncing does not work correctly, especially calendar syncing. And a la…

I've never seen the android browser crash, for one thing, and the extra memory means less refreshing when switching between windows.

Biggest for me is file browsers, being able to copy content onto the device from across the network, not needing to deal with iTunes.

I've replaced the default media browser, video player etc.

And I can use my phone in bed with auto rotate disabled without having to jailbreak.

To me, the primitive nature of iOS stands out. It has a lot of polish, but it is simply less functional, less useful.

Re: Google pulls plug on Nexus One

#120
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't call it a problem; it's an artifact of a completely different ecosystem. If it wasn't an open platform, and was all built by only one company, it wouldn't have been announced until just before it was shipped. I'm sure some people are frustrated by it, but following "publish early and often", and all that goes with it, is how open source works.

What's frustrating is that pretty much every Android phone is sold with a "with Google" stamp on the back, and that this basically means fuck all. It should mean "this is an Android phone that is built with Google's blessing and with Google's support, so lean back and don't worry".

I recently bought an HTC Desire - there's no "with Google" stamp.

I don't think your statement is correct.

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